By Carolyn Thompson | Related Press
MAYVILLE, N.Y. (AP) — A decide refused to grant bail Thursday to the person accused of making an attempt to kill Salman Rushdie because the acclaimed creator ready to offer a chat in western New York.
Hadi Matar, 24, appeared in a western New York courtroom after a grand jury indicted him on prices that he rushed the stage on the Chautauqua Establishment and stabbed Rushdie a number of occasions in entrance of a horrified crowd.
Wearing a black and white jail uniform, Matar stayed quiet throughout the listening to whereas his lawyer unsuccessfully tried to influence the decide that he ought to be launched whereas he awaited trial. Public defender Nathaniel Barone mentioned Matar had no legal document and wouldn’t flee the nation if launched.
Barone additionally requested the decide to do one thing to cease reporters from making an attempt to contact Matar on the Chautauqua County jail. The lawyer mentioned the jail had obtained “a number of hundred cellphone calls” from folks making an attempt to succeed in Matar.
A few of that media outreach resulted in Matar giving a quick interview to The New York Submit, through which he talked about disliking Rushdie and praised Iran’s late supreme chief, Grand Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.
Khomeini issued an edict in 1989 demanding Rushdie’s dying over his novel “The Satanic Verses,” which some Muslims contemplate blasphemous. A semiofficial Iranian basis had posted a bounty of over $3 million.
Matar’s lawyer complained that the media protection might probably result in a biased jury.
“He’s entitled to a good trial. He’s entitled to due course of, it doesn't matter what he’s accused of,” Barone mentioned.
Decide David Foley declined that request, however he ordered the legal professionals concerned within the case to not give interviews.
“No talking to the press till we've got resolved this difficulty,” the decide mentioned.
Rushdie, 75, is getting therapy in a Pennsylvania hospital for extreme wounds.
Chautauqua County District Legal professional Jason Schmidt mentioned throughout the courtroom listening to that Matar stabbed Mr. Rushdie a dozen occasions within the neck, abdomen, chest, hand and proper eye, earlier than he might be stopped by shocked bystanders.
“He doesn’t care about his personal freedom, decide, and is so pushed by his motives that his mission to kill Mr. Rushdie is bigger in his thoughts and outweighs his personal private freedom,” Schmidt advised the decide.
The creator was seated in a chair on the lakeside retreat Aug. 12, ready to be launched for a dialogue of protections for writers in exile and freedom of expression when Matar jumped onstage.
Henry Reese, 73, the cofounder of Pittsburgh’s Metropolis of Asylum, was onstage with Rushdie and suffered a gash to his brow, bruising and different minor accidents.
Matar, who lived in Fairview, New Jersey, along with his mom, is charged with tried homicide and assault. He might get many years in jail if convicted. He has pleaded not responsible.