The trial of a New Jersey man charged with attempting to kill author Salman Rushdie is nearing its conclusion, with lawyers preparing to deliver their closing arguments. The incident took place in August 2022 at the Chautauqua Institution in western New York, where Rushdie was attacked on stage, resulting in serious injuries including blindness in one eye.
The defendant, Hadi Matar, faces charges of attempted murder and assault and could potentially receive a 25-year prison sentence if convicted. Rushdie, 77, testified during the trial, recounting the harrowing experience of being stabbed and slashed by a masked assailant while giving a lecture.
Medical experts testified that Rushdie's injuries were life-threatening and required extensive treatment. Video footage from the institution's cameras captured the attack and the ensuing chaos among audience members. Witnesses identified Matar as the perpetrator of the assault.
Rushdie, a renowned author who won the Booker Prize, spent weeks in hospitals recovering from the multiple wounds inflicted during the attack. His memoir, titled 'Knife,' documents the painful journey of his rehabilitation.
Throughout the trial, Matar maintained a composed demeanor, often interacting with his defense attorneys. The defense team opted not to present any witnesses and Matar chose not to testify in his own defense.
Defense attorneys argued that Matar's intent was to injure rather than kill Rushdie, pointing out that he used knives instead of more lethal weapons. They suggested that Rushdie's celebrity status may have influenced the severity of the charges brought against Matar.
Additionally, a federal indictment alleges that Matar's attack was motivated by a longstanding fatwa issued against Rushdie in response to his novel 'The Satanic Verses.' The trial on federal terrorism-related charges is set to take place in U.S. District Court in Buffalo.
The prosecution and defense will present their closing arguments, allowing the jury to deliberate and reach a verdict in this high-profile case that has captured national attention.
