A New Jersey man accused of stabbing author Salman Rushdie in 2022 has chosen not to testify in his defense as his trial nears its conclusion. The defendant, Hadi Matar, 27, made this decision as his lawyers rested their case without calling any witnesses.
Prosecutors in Chautauqua County Court, New York, called a forensics expert as their final witness after seven days of testimony, including a significant account from Rushdie himself. The incident, which occurred at the Chautauqua Institution, resulted in Rushdie sustaining serious injuries, including blindness in one eye, and another individual, Henry Reese, suffering a gash above his eye.
Matar, a resident of Fairview, New Jersey, has been charged with attempted murder and assault in connection with the attack. Despite his vocal statements outside the courtroom, his defense team had not confirmed whether he would testify during the trial.
While Matar's lawyers opted not to present any witnesses, they aimed to challenge the prosecution's case by raising doubts about Matar's alleged intent to kill Rushdie. They highlighted the fact that Matar used a knife, not a gun, and emphasized that Rushdie survived the attack, which witnesses described as a 'skirmish' or 'scuffle.'
Public Defender Nathaniel Barone expressed skepticism about the prosecution's ability to prove intent to murder, citing the nature of the altercation and the weapon used. Rushdie endured multiple stab and slash wounds to various parts of his body during the unprovoked assault, which occurred as he was preparing to participate in a discussion on writer safety.
In addition to the ongoing trial in Chautauqua County Court, Matar also faces a separate federal indictment in U.S. District Court in Buffalo. The federal charges against him include attempting to provide material support to the militant group Hezbollah.
