The attempted murder trial of the man charged with severely injuring author Salman Rushdie in a 2022 knife attack was put on hold Friday while judges consider a request to move it to another county.
Late Friday, an appellate judge in Rochester halted proceedings until the court rules on a motion by Hadi Matar’s attorney for a change of venue out of Chautauqua County, where the attack occurred.
Matar has been held without bail since rushing the stage as Rushdie prepared to speak at the Chautauqua Institution and stabbing him more than a dozen times before being subdued by onlookers. The “Satanic Verses” author was left blinded in one eye. The event’s moderator, Henry Reese, was also wounded.
Matar has pleaded not guilty to attempted murder and assault.
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