The vicious assault of a St. Albert man working as a bus driver in Edmonton was on full display Monday as the sentencing hearing for the man who attacked him continued.
The court got a firsthand look at the attack through security camera footage from the bus, showing the horrific assault on Tom Bregg.
Gary Edwin Mattson pleaded guilty to aggravated assault and assaulting a police officer earlier this month. The sentencing hearing is expected to continue for another day.
In the grainy black and white video, Mattson can be seen arguing with Bregg, apparently over paying the fare before the driver demands he leave the bus.
Mattson then suddenly punches Bregg, landing three successive blows on the 59-year-old Edmonton Transit driver.
Mattson then drags Bregg out of his chair and throws him outside the bus, where the assault becomes even more shocking. Mattson repeatedly stomps on Bregg's face before pausing briefly and stomping one last time.
Other passengers on the bus run out the back door when the assault began. Others came to the front of the bus after the attack was over.
Thirty seconds elapsed from the first punch to the final stomp.
After playing the video, Crown prosecutor Patricia Innes presented some information about the scope of Bregg's injuries.
Reading from medical reports, Inness said Bregg had spent weeks in intensive care, followed by more time recovering in hospital and an eventual transfer to the Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital.
The medical reports detailed the surgical procedures Bregg needed to repair several broken bones in his face. He also experienced some difficulties with his memory following the attack.
In a letter from Bregg's plastic surgeon that Inness read to the court, it was clear there was still more recovery ahead.
"With these sorts of injuries they always need secondary surgeries to improve appearance and function."
Hearing continues
The hearing is expected to continue again on May 25, when the Crown is expected to call some of Bregg's doctors directly to the witness stand.
They will also be playing some of the 911 calls. Several witnesses who were with Mattson at a party in the hours before the attack might testify.
According to witness statements, Mattson was asked to leave that party after getting into an argument.
Defence lawyer Naeem Rafu objected to those statements being part of the evidence for the proceedings and asked Inness to produce those witnesses to be cross-examined.
Inness is seeking to have Mattson labelled a dangerous offender, which would see him incarcerated indefinitely.
The sentencing hearing is the first step in the process. If the Crown convinces the judge a full hearing is warranted it will take place after psychiatric and other assessments are completed on Mattson.
