Owner of a swanky Bondi bar stabs his business partner in the head with the stem of a wine glass after the pair spat at each other's faces in late-night row
- Benedict Maurice got into a row with Ode Bondi co-owner Jeremy Moyle
- The pair's disagreement turned violent when Mr Maurice spat in Mr Moyle's face
- Mr Maurice then stabbed his business partner in the head with a wine glass stem
- The relationship between Mr Moyle and Mr Maurice had soured before the fight
The owner of an exclusive Sydney bar stabbed his business partner in the face with a wine glass stem during a bitter dispute.
Benedict Winston Maurice, 38, who co-owns the Ode in Bondi, got into a heated argument with business partner Jeremy Moyle at around midnight last Friday.
But the pair's disagreement turned violent when Mr Maurice spat in Mr Moyle's face.
Mr Moyle then spat back at his business partner before the row escalated further.
'At this time, the accused was holding a broken wine glass in his right hand before stabbing the victim in the head with the stem of the glass,' police facts obtained by the Daily Telegraph read.
Ode (pictured) in Bondi is run by four co-owners, but the business relationship between Mr Moyle and Mr Maurice had soured before the incident
After fleeing the venue, Mr Moyle ran home to his wife and told her: 'Benedict stabbed me, get help'.
He was taken to hospital where he received three stitches to a 2cm wound to his jaw.
Mr Maurice was later arrested at Ode, where he had been drinking.
The business is run by four co-owners, but the relationship between Mr Moyle and Mr Maurice had soured.
Police said the tension between the pair is what prompted Mr Maurice to propose a settlement to buy Mr Moyle's share of the business.
'About midnight the accused arrived at the location where he and the victim and witness have begun talking about the accused buying out his partners' share of the business,' police facts read.
Share this article
'These talks have become heated, with the victim and accused ensuing in a verbal argument.'
Mr Maurice denied stabbing his business partner in an interview with police.
'(Mr Maurice) states that due to the victim's close proximity to him it has caused the wine glass to break, with the victim suffering a small cut.'
But police didn't believe Mr Maurice's version of events and charged him with reckless wounding.
Mr Maurice pleaded guilty at Waverley Local Court on Tuesday.
Although the defendant claimed the assault was not malicious, Magistrate Allison Hawkins told him it was a serious matter.
The 38-year-old will be sentenced in a week.
