Opening Statements Begin at Trial of Man Charged with Trying to Kill Salman Rushdie
Lawyers to Deliver Opening Statements Monday
Lawyers are scheduled to deliver opening statements Monday at the trial of the man charged with trying to fatally stab author Salman Rushdie in front of a lecture audience in western New York.
Rushdie Expected to Testify
Rushdie, 77, is expected to testify during the trial of Hadi Matar, bringing the writer face-to-face with his knife-wielding attacker for the first time in more than two years.
The Attack
Rushdie, who wrote “Midnight’s Children” and “Victory City,” had been about to speak about keeping writers safe from harm in August 2022 when Matar ran toward him on the stage at the Chautauqua Institution Amphitheater. Matar stabbed Rushdie more than a dozen times in the neck, stomach, chest, hand, and right eye, leaving him partially blind and with permanent damage to one hand.
Matar’s Defense
Matar, 27, of Fairview, New Jersey, is charged with attempted murder and assault. He has pleaded not guilty. A jury was selected last week. Matar was in court throughout the three-day process, taking notes and consulting with his attorneys.
The Trial
Once testimony is underway, the trial is expected to last a week to 10 days. Jurors will be shown video and photos from the day of the attack, which ended when onlookers rushed Matar and held him until police arrived. The event’s moderator, Henry Reese, co-founder of City of Asylum in Pittsburgh, was also wounded.
Matar’s Motivation
Matar told investigators he traveled by bus to Chautauqua, about 75 miles (120 kilometers) south of Buffalo. He is believed to have slept in the grounds of the arts and academic retreat the night before the attack.
Federal Indictment
In a separate indictment, federal authorities allege Matar was motivated by a terrorist organization’s endorsement of a fatwa, or edict, calling for Rushdie’s death. A later trial on the federal charges — terrorism transcending national boundaries, providing material support to terrorists, and attempting to provide material support to a terrorist organization — will be scheduled in U.S. District Court in Buffalo.
Conclusion
The trial of Hadi Matar, accused of trying to kill Salman Rushdie, is underway, with opening statements set to begin Monday. Rushdie is expected to testify, bringing the writer face-to-face with his attacker for the first time in over two years. The trial is expected to last a week to 10 days, with jurors shown video and photos from the day of the attack.
FAQs
What is Hadi Matar charged with? Matar is charged with attempted murder and assault.
What is Salman Rushdie expected to testify about? Rushdie is expected to testify about the attack and his long, painful recovery.
How long is the trial expected to last? The trial is expected to last a week to 10 days.
What are the federal charges against Matar? Matar faces federal charges of terrorism transcending national boundaries, providing material support to terrorists, and attempting to provide material support to a terrorist organization.
