Gay-bashing victim needed over 200 stitches

HAMILTON - Police have described an attack on a gay man whose face was slashed with a beer glass as the worst unprovoked hate crime they can remember.

The assault on Ronn Mattai, 38, owner of the popular Junction Cafe, has sent a chill through the city's gay community and angered and shocked the downtown business community.

Hamilton Mayor Larry Di Ianni, who knew the victim and frequented his restaurant, said steps have to be taken to make sure this doesn't happen again and that everybody can feel safe in the downtown business area where the attack occurred early Saturday morning.

"I spoke to him on the telephone. He was in pain but appreciative of the call," said Di ianni, who called after learning about the attack from the newspaper.

"Isn't it absolutely horrific? It angers me and it needs the full extent of the law to make sure this doesn't happen again," he said.

Di Ianni said Mattai should be treated as a "hero" - rather than be victimized - for establishing a popular eatery and enhancing the city's entertainment district around the Dofasco Centre at King William and Ferguson Street.

Hamilton Deputy Chief Ken Leendertse said police are treating the incident as a "hate-biased crime" because the victim was attacked as a result of his sexual orientation.

Police said Mattai was making the rounds with his friends when they ended up at the Asinthe club on King Street East at about 2:30 a.m. Feb. 21. As he was walking out of a washroom in the basement, somebody approached him and lured him into a closet under the ruse he needed help to lift some object. Inside the closet, the assailant slashed his face with a broken glass in frenzied five-second blitz, police added.

Police added the attacker fled in a sports utility vehicle parked near the club. A passenger in the vehicle was arrested shortly after and charged with aggravated assault. Police said he was treated at St. Joseph's Hospital for a cut to his right palm.

Leendertse said comments were made during the attack and at the hospital that led police to conclude the incident was motivated by the fact the victim was gay. Under the Criminal Code, the judge has the power to increase the penalty if he concludes the offence was motivated by hate.

Asked about other incidents, he replied: "We do get the odd hate-biased crime, usually a punch up, but nothing so unprovoked and vicious." He added the incident appeared to be premeditated because there was a get-away vehicle outside the club.

"We're taking this very seriously. We've made this a priority case. Detectives will be attending the bail hearing to make sure the Justice of the Peace and the Crown understand the full impact of this and all the related issues are brought forward."

The victim was taken to the Hamilton General Hospital where it took more than 200 stitches to repair the damage to his face. He was released from the hospital Saturday and is staying with relatives at an undisclosed location. His business partner, Judith Padunsky, said he was extremely traumatized and will require months of counselling as well plastic surgery to recover.

She said the restaurant, which was serving lunch as usual yesterday, was inundated with telephone calls from persons concerned about his welfare. She added wellwishers were horrified such a gentle and soft-spoken person "who wouldn't hurt a fly" could be the victim of such a brutal assault.

She said he told her he didn't know the attacker and has no idea why he was singled out.

Rodney Deeprose, vice-president of the board of directors of the AIDS network, said the Mattai was a "great fellow" who had taken on the network as his main charity. He would make his facility available for their functions and catered their events.

"I'm incredibly disappointed this is still happening and has happened to somebody so well-known and so well-liked as Ronn. There will be a chill across the city because he was so well known," he said.

Roy Cain, a professor in the school of social work at McMaster University, described the attack as "extreme form of homophobia" that underlines the threat of violence members of the gay community live with every day.

He added it's also a reminder that "gay bashing hasn't disappeared," despite more relaxed social policies and cultural attitudes towards gays.

"I think this should send a chill over the entire community. It's not just the gay community that should be concerned. It's a city-wide issue," Cain said.

Michael Cordeiro, 19, made a brief appearance at the John Sopinka courthouse yesterday and will return Friday for a bail hearing.

Torstar News Service