MAN'S FACE SLASHED IN KING EAST BAR

Hate crimes unit asked to investigate savage 2 a.m. attack

Feb. 23, 12:28 EDT

Jennifer Morrison
The Hamilton Spectator

A Hamilton man's face was cut open in an attack at a downtown bar early Saturday.

Police say 38-year-old Ronn Mattai, owner of The Junction Cafe restaurant and jazz club on King William Street, had a glass broken on his face and was then slashed with the shards.

It took more than 200 stitches to close the wounds on his face and chin. Police have charged a 20-year-old Hamilton man with aggravated assault.

The hate crimes unit has been asked to look into the incident. Detective David Brady declined to say why.

Mattai had dropped into the Absinthe club to have a drink with friends and co-workers just in time for last call.

According to friends, he'd been in the basement of the King Street East bar for about 30 minutes, when he was struck in the face with a bar glass by a man he reportedly didn't know.

Police are still trying to piece together what prompted the attack.

"This is certainly substantially more serious than what we run across on a day-to-day basis," said Brady. "It's considerably more than your average bar fight."

The attacker suffered a serious cut to his hand in the 2 a.m. incident.

The victim's friends chased a man from the bar and saw him get into a red Suzuki SUV that was waiting for him, police said.

The vehicle was pulled over soon after in the Walnut and Hunter Street area.

Police arrested a man and took him to hospital where he was treated for cuts and taken into custody.

Mattai was taken to Hamilton General Hospital emergency room and needed 210 stitches to close his wounds.

"He's in rough shape. We're trying to do everything we can for him," said Amy Hollis, a close friend and business partner. "It breaks my heart." She described the victim as a generous and giving man, who is active in the community and many charities, including the United Way and the AIDS Network.

"We're all trying to be strong for him. We'll do whatever it takes," she said. Mattai was released from hospital Saturday afternoon and is being cared for by friends and family.

"He's in a considerable amount of pain," added Judith Padunsky, another of Mattai's business partners. "He's on pain medication... He's trying to recover as best he can."

Police are asking anyone with information or who might have been at the bar around 2 a.m. to come forward. Michael Cordeiro is charged with aggravated assault.

jmorrison@thespec.com
905-526-3283