Hostess Stabbed; Police Arrest Husband

SHERMAN OAKS —  A 32-year-old man burst into a popular restaurant and stabbed his estranged wife several times in the chest, seriously injuring her, before onlookers subdued him, Los Angeles police said Monday.

Patricia Joudeh, 27, a hostess at the Casa Vega restaurant, which has a reputation as a favorite with show business celebrities, was attacked just after 5 p.m. Sunday, Officer David Cueto said.

Stunned co-workers and customers wrested the knife from the man’s hand and held him down until police arrived, officers said.

Patricia Joudeh, who had obtained a court order against her husband in a domestic dispute in February, was rushed to Northridge Hospital Medical Center. She was in stable condition Monday following surgery, Cueto said.

Hospital administrators would not discuss her condition.

Her husband, Joudeh Joudeh, was being held at Van Nuys jail on suspicion of attempted murder.

Cueto said the couple had been separated for an undetermined amount of time. Patricia Joudeh has an apartment in Van Nuys, but officers did not know where her husband lived.

Joudeh Joudeh, who was unemployed, immigrated to the United States from Jordan four years ago, police said.

Casa Vega, in the 13300 block of Ventura Boulevard near a number of music recording studios, was a hangout for entertainment and music celebrities. The walls are decorated with gold and platinum records donated by patrons such as singer Neil Diamond.

Peter Miro, urban entertainment editor for Cashbox magazine, said Casa Vega is not currently that popular with the industry but was known to be a bustling spot in the past.

Police were still searching for a motive in the stabbing.

“It’s a case of domestic violence,” Cueto said. “He might have been angry that she was working, but we don’t really know that much now.”