A prominent union figure was jumped and beaten as he arrived at work by four to five men armed with metal bars in a daylight attack that left him with a broken arm and a gash to his head. W. and Weston Rd. At least three of the men appeared to be armed with metal pipes, said the witness.
Police say it is too early to talk about motive, but they are looking into labour-related issues.
Sabastian Vili, who works in a collection agency above Stefanini's office, ran outside when the moaning outside his window turned into cries for help. His head was cracked right open,'' Vili said. Stefanini, who lost consciousness after the beating and was rushed to York Finch Memorial Hospital, has been interviewed by police and is now home recuperating. Stefanini, a former business manager of Local 183 of the Labourers International Union of North America, has been the subject of violence before. Ronald M. Fino, who became a top FBI informer, described how top Mafia chiefs had debated in the late 1980s over whether Stefanini should be killed.