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MAYVILLE, NY (WNY News Now) – The trial against a New Jersey man accused of stabbing a world-renowned author at the Chautauqua Institution last year, could get underway as soon as this fall.
Accused attacker Hadi Matar appeared in Chautauqua County Court Tuesday for an evidentiary update in the stabbing of Salman Rushdie.
The 24-year-old was indicated for second-degree felony attempted murder in connection with the August 12 stabbing attack. He also faces an assault charge for the alleged stabbing of Henry Reese, Rushdie’s publicist, who attempted to intervene.
Several topics came up during Tuesday’s hearing, including Matar’s mental state and the status of a medical evaluation requested by his attorney.
In addition to what prosecutors call an “overwhelming amount” of evidence from witness testimony to police interviews and photographic/video of the attack; DA Jason Schmidt also plans to subpoena an interview the New York Post obtained with Matar while in custody.
“I don’t think I’d be doing my job if I did not use some of the contents within that interview,” explained Schmidt. “There are statements that were made during the interview with could be construed as admissions, that I think would be appropriate for the prosecution to use.”
While the Public Defender has denied comment, in court Matar’s attorney Ned Barone sought additional specifics under New York State Discovery law about the number of time’s his client allegedly stabbed Rushdie.
A gag order was renewed for this case by Judge David Foley, who also continued to have Matar held within Chautauqua County Jail without bail.
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