Gosford: Marouf Alameddine jailed for throwing cafe owner through window in shocking attack

A man became “fixated” on a NSW cafe owner before a shocking, unprovoked attack in which he threw the victim through a plate-glass window, a court has heard. See the video.

Marouf Alameddine, 40, of Gosford, was jailed for an unprovoked attack on Gosford cafe owner Felix Granato in January 2025. Picture: supplied

A former traffic controller and disability support worker was off his medication when he became “fixated” on a cafe owner who he threw through a plate-glass window before jumping on his chest and punching him repeatedly in the face, a court has heard.

Marouf Alameddine, 40, of Gosford, faced Gosford Local Court on Thursday after pleading guilty to intimidation, assault causing actual bodily harm, damaging property, hindering police and assaulting police.

The court heard Alameddine was usually on seroquel and lithium but was off his medication when he entered Lakes Espresso Cafe at Gosford and verbally abused the husband and wife owners Felix and Mia Granato.

Mr Granato told Alameddine to not come back several times over the course of a few weeks until he turned up about 10am on January 10.

An agreed set of facts states Alameddine again became verbally aggressive and called Mr Granato a “c–t”.

Marouf Alameddine, 40, of Gosford,

was told not to come back. Pictures: supplied

Mr Granato told Alameddine not to come back and he turned around and said “I won’t come back ya f–king dog” and kicked over a steel sign.

Alameddine then started approaching the victim who backed away saying “don’t touch me” with his hands up to defend himself.

“The accused has then backed the victim against a wall while pointing in the victim’s face and shouting words to the effect of ‘I’m not gonna touch ya, I’m gonna make friends next time’,” the facts state.

“The accused then raises his left hand and strikes the victim in the face and begins to walk away from the scene, causing the victim to feel immediate pain and fall to the ground.”

Mrs Granato said she was going to call police and Alameddine started walking towards her until her husband got up and attracted Alameddine’s attention.

“The accused then uses two hands, pushing the victim in the shoulders and through a large glass window belonging to Care2Help, a business situated beside the location,” the facts state.

Incredibly, Mr Granato only suffered minor cuts.

He was pushed through this window of the business next door.

“The victim has fallen through the window, cutting along his right arm. The accused was then on top of the victim, with the victim attempting to cover his face. The accused using a closed left fist then strikes the victim in the face and head three times.

“The accused then shuffles his body to gain further control, kneeling on the head and face of the victim.

“The accused then stands up and kicks the victim, saying ‘Do you want to chase me around Gosford you f–king [slur]”.

Alameddine fled the cafe and police arrived.

Officers tracked Alameddine to a unit block on Showground Rd but he refused to come out resulting in a “violent struggle” with police in which he punched one officer in the face and tried to bite another on the wrist.

Eventually he was overpowered with OC spray and more officers who arrested him and took him to Gosford Police Station.

Magistrate Kirralee Perry said Alameddine was on an intensive correction order at the time for an unrelated hindering and intimidating police offence.

She said it was just sheer luck the victim did not suffer far more serious injuries.

“I can only imagine how terrified a shop owner was doing their job, serving coffees and then getting thrown through a plate-glass window,” Ms Perry said.

She sentenced Alameddine to two years jail with a non-parole period of 16 months.

Mr Granato told the Express Advocate he was relieved his attacker was behind bars.

He said he and his wife had to shut the cafe for a week and suffered a great deal of fear and stress, which ultimately saw them relocate to a new premises at Kanwal.