Salman Rushdie attacker found guilty of attempted murder and assault
International Desk
A New Jersey man has been found guilty of attempted murder for attacking author Salman Rushdie during a lecture in New York in 2022.
A jury delivered the verdict on February 21 after less than two hours of deliberation, also convicting 27-year-old Hadi Matar of assault for injuring another individual on stage with Rushdie at the Chautauqua Institution.
Matar rushed the stage on August 12, 2022, stabbing Rushdie more than a dozen times in front of a live audience. The attack left the 77-year-old novelist blind in one eye.
Rushdie testified during the seven-day trial, providing graphic details of his life-threatening injuries and the long road to recovery.
Matar displayed no visible reaction to the verdict, standing silently as it was read. As he was escorted from the courtroom in handcuffs, he muttered, "Free Palestine," a phrase he had repeated throughout the trial.
The judge scheduled Matar’s sentencing for April 23, where he could face up to 25 years in prison, the maximum penalty for second-degree attempted murder. District Attorney Jason Schmidt emphasized the strength of the video evidence, which he described as "rock solid."
"We had multiple angles showing the attack," Schmidt stated. "This case could not be clearer." He further remarked that Matar had arrived as a visitor but would now remain in New York State for the next 25 years.
