“Ontario firefighters help elderly man attacked by cleaver at Winnipeg casino”
from Canadian Press, Globe and Mail, 15/02/07
WINNIPEG — Two Ontario firefighters who were in Winnipeg to attend the memorial service for a pair of fallen comrades are being credited with helping save the life of an elderly man who was attacked with a cleaver at a local casino.
Geronimo Ramos, 78, was playing blackjack Wednesday when he was attacked from behind by a man wielding a cleaver, said police and witnesses.
“The guy had a small kitchen meat cleaver, the blade about four inches long, the handle wrapped in clear tape,” said Eli Beardy, a mental health counsellor from Thompson who was playing poker at a neighbouring table.
“He chopped him right over the top of the head, right in the middle, chopped at him about five times.”
….
Teresito Santos Saqui, 44, of British Columbia, is charged with aggravated assault, possession of a dangerous weapon and breach of bail conditions.
Police and his lawyer said Mr. Saqui was a long-time Air Canada mechanic who has been on disability for several years and may be suffering from mental health issues.
Court documents indicate Mr. Saqui had been out on bail pending a trial of charges of smuggling cocaine from British Columbia.
….
Const. Blair Good said it appears Mr. Saqui had been spending plenty of time recently at the casino, but there had been no prior complaints about his behaviour.
Mr. Ramos’s wife, Linda, said she had gone to the casino to pick up her husband when she saw the ambulances outside and “got a bad feeling.”
Her heart sank as she watched her husband carried out on a stretcher.
“There was so much blood,” she said. “I can’t believe he lost that much blood.”
Security has been increased at two Winnipeg casinos as a result of the attack.
“This is unprecedented in our history,” said Susan Olynik, spokeswoman for the Manitoba Lotteries Corp.
“We want to express our sympathies to the victim and his family.”
