Attempted murder: Attacker Salman Rushdie pleads not guilty
NEW YORK: The man accused of assaulting controversial author Salman Rushdie pleaded not guilty in New York Court on Saturday.
Hadi Matar, 24, is accused of attempting to kill and attack Salman at New York’s Chautauqua Institute.
Matar appeared in court wearing a black and white jumpsuit and a face mask with his hands handcuffed in front of him.
Rushdie was seriously injured in the attack and remains in hospital.
At the time of the attack, Rushdie, 75, was preparing to deliver a lecture on artistic freedom before Matar rushed on stage and stabbed the Indian-born writer.
After several hours of surgery, Rushdie was on a ventilator and unable to speak and the novelist was likely to lose an eye and have nerve damage in his arm and a laceration to his heart.
Police said they still do not know the motive for the attack so far.
source – Astro Awani
