Trial of man accused of stabbing Salman Rushdie postponed for second time

The trial of the man accused of stabbing an author Salman Rushdie was adjourned to await a decision from the court to move the trial State Court of Appeals.

The Chautauqua County District Attorney’s Office sent out a statement Friday, Oct. 11, saying the Appellate Division had stayed the trial. Chautauqua County Public Defender Ned Barone had filed a motion for a change of venue that would move the trial outside of Chautauqua County.

Jury selection for the trial Hadi Matar was supposed to start last Tuesday. This is the second time the trial has been postponed, the last time being in January so that manuscripts related to a paper on the attack could be subpoenaed in August 2022.

Matar is accused of attacking Rushdie on August 12, 2022, shortly before the author was scheduled to give a lecture Chautauqua Institution.

He was charged with attempted murder and second-degree assault in that incident.

Matar was also charged US District Court attempting to provide material support to Hezbollah, a designated foreign terrorist organization, engaging in a terrorist attack that crosses national borders, and providing material support to terrorists.

If convicted in the U.S. District Court case, Matar faces a maximum penalty of life in prison.