Hadi Matar, the man accused in the 2022 stabbing of author Salman Rushdie, declines to testify in his federal terrorism trial. At a court hearing on Tuesday, Matar’s lawyer, Nathaniel Barone, told the court that the 28-year-old will not take the stand and will not call any witnesses. The case includes federal charges that prosecutors characterize as involving transnational terrorism, alongside other related allegations. Matar had already been convicted on state-level attempted murder charges stemming from the attack.
With the defense resting after Matar declines to present testimony or witnesses, the trial is expected to move toward jury deliberations shortly, with sources indicating the matter could be sent to the jury as early as Wednesday. Separate from Matar’s decision not to testify, reports also note that Rushdie himself testified during the proceedings about the 2022 attack and its impact on his health. The coverage reflects a procedural turning point in the federal case as it approaches the next stage.
