Hadi Matar was found guilty of attempted murder and assault for attacking Salman Rushdie during a lecture at the Chautauqua Institute in August 2022. Matar's conviction followed a week of intense testimonies, including Rushdie's own harrowing account of the attack, which resulted in him losing sight in one eye. Prosecutors emphasized the unprovoked and targeted nature of Matar's assault, while witnesses described the chaotic scene and Rushdie's struggle for survival amid the violence. The attack has deep implications for literary freedom and personal safety.
"I saw Salman Rushdie on the floor. I saw other people trying to restrain the attacker," Kushmaul recalled.
"I want you to look at the unprovoked nature of this attack. I want you to look at the targeted nature of the attack," District Attorney Jason Schmidt told the jury.
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