A judge on Thursday denied bail to a man accused of trying to kill Salman Rushdie as the acclaimed author prepared to speak in western New York.
Hadi Matar, 24, appeared in a West New York courthouse after a grand jury indicted him for taking the stage at the Chautauqua Institute and punching Rushdie multiple times in front of a shocked crowd.
Dressed in a black and white prison uniform, Matar remained silent during the hearing as his attorney unsuccessfully tried to convince the judge that he should be released pending trial. Public defender Nathaniel Barone said Matar had no criminal record and would not flee the country if he were released.
Barron also asked the judge to do something to stop reporters from contacting Matar in Chautauqua County Jail. The lawyer said the prison received “several hundred calls” from people trying to get to the train.
Some media outlets reported that Matar gave a brief interview to The New York Post in which he discussed his dislike of Rushdie and praised Iran’s late Supreme Leader Grand Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.
Khomeini issued a decree in 1989 demanding Rushdie’s death for his case. satanic verses, which some Muslims consider blasphemy. A semi-official Iranian foundation has announced a reward of more than $3 million.
Matar’s lawyer complained that the media coverage could lead to a biased jury.
“You are entitled to a fair trial. You have the right to due process, no matter what you’re accused of,” Barone said.
Judge David Foley denied that request, but ordered the lawyers involved in the case not to be interviewed.
“There is no way to speak to the press until we have resolved this matter,” the judge said.
Rashdi, 75, is being treated for serious injuries at a Pennsylvania hospital.
Chautauqua County District Attorney Jason Schmidt told the hearing that Matar stabbed Rushdie 10 times in the neck, abdomen, chest, hand and right eye before being pinned down by shocked bystanders.
“You disregard your own freedom, Judge, and are so motivated by your motives that your mission to kill Mr. Rushdie is bigger in his mind than his personal freedom,” Schmidt told the judge.
The author was sitting on a bench by a lake on August 12, awaiting a discussion on protecting writers in exile and free speech, when Matari jumped onto the stage.
Henry Reese, 73, co-founder of the City of Pittsburgh shelter, was at the scene with Rushdie and suffered a cut to his forehead, bruises and other minor injuries.
Mattar, who lived with his mother in Fairview, New Jersey, is charged with attempted murder and assault. If convicted, he could be imprisoned for decades. He pleaded not guilty.
Source: Hollywood Reporter
Camila Luna is a writer at Gossipify, where she covers the latest movies and television series. With a passion for all things entertainment, Camila brings her unique perspective to her writing and offers readers an inside look at the industry. Camila is a graduate from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) with a degree in English and is also a avid movie watcher.
