Neda Torfik

He held up his hand with severed tendons and nerves that he had raised in self-defense. He described a sense of great pain and shock as he had laid in a lake of his own blood, thinking clearly that he was dying. In a previous BBC interview, the Booker Prize winner said he couldn't make sense of the attack.

He held up his hand with severed tendons and nerves that he had raised in self-defense. He described a sense of great pain and shock as he had laid in a lake of his own blood, thinking clearly that he was dying. In a previous BBC interview, the Booker Prize winner said he couldn't make sense of the attack.

Inside the courtroom, jurors listened intently to Rushdie's testimony, as did his wife and friend who were also present. The 77-year-old said he is still recovering. As for his alleged attacker, if convicted, he faces 25 years in prison.

Inside the courtroom, jurors listened intently to Rushdie's testimony, as did his wife and friend who were also present. The 77-year-old said he is still recovering. As for his alleged attacker, if convicted, he faces 25 years in prison.

Today, jurors heard opening statements from both the prosecution and the defense, and they heard just how this attack unfolded in a matter of seconds, just as the moderator was two sentences into his opening. And prosecutors said that Hadi Matar... lurched over stairs and rapidly accelerated to the stage.

Today, jurors heard opening statements from both the prosecution and the defense, and they heard just how this attack unfolded in a matter of seconds, just as the moderator was two sentences into his opening. And prosecutors said that Hadi Matar... lurched over stairs and rapidly accelerated to the stage.

And then he very deliberately plunged a knife into Sir Salman Rushdie over and over and over again. They said injuring him in the head, in the thigh, in the neck, on his body, stabbing him nearly 15 times. And as you mentioned there, leaving him blind in his right eye. and nearly killing him. Jurors heard about just the sheer amount of blood that was on the stage.

And then he very deliberately plunged a knife into Sir Salman Rushdie over and over and over again. They said injuring him in the head, in the thigh, in the neck, on his body, stabbing him nearly 15 times. And as you mentioned there, leaving him blind in his right eye. and nearly killing him. Jurors heard about just the sheer amount of blood that was on the stage.

And prosecutors said they would hear from witnesses who were there. There were 2,000 people in the amphitheater there to hear the talk. Prosecutors said they would also see videos. And then the defense spoke. And their strategy seemed to really just try to sow doubt in the prosecutor's case.

And prosecutors said they would hear from witnesses who were there. There were 2,000 people in the amphitheater there to hear the talk. Prosecutors said they would also see videos. And then the defense spoke. And their strategy seemed to really just try to sow doubt in the prosecutor's case.

They asked jurors to keep an open mind and to remember that it was the burden of the prosecution to prove intent beyond a reasonable doubt. And then the court did hear from two witnesses. The second witness was actually one of the gentlemen who rushed to the stage and tackled the attacker. And he directly identified Hadi Matar as being responsible in court. What do we know about the accused?

They asked jurors to keep an open mind and to remember that it was the burden of the prosecution to prove intent beyond a reasonable doubt. And then the court did hear from two witnesses. The second witness was actually one of the gentlemen who rushed to the stage and tackled the attacker. And he directly identified Hadi Matar as being responsible in court. What do we know about the accused?

Well, Hadi Matar is a 26 year old from New Jersey. He is both an American and Lebanese dual citizenship holder. We know that he got a ticket to go to the event in August of 2022 and that he actually kind of slept on the grounds and then went inside.

Well, Hadi Matar is a 26 year old from New Jersey. He is both an American and Lebanese dual citizenship holder. We know that he got a ticket to go to the event in August of 2022 and that he actually kind of slept on the grounds and then went inside.

Now, an exact motive hasn't yet been provided, but in a separate indictment, federal investigators accused Hadi Mattar of carrying this out for Hezbollah, of seeing Salman Rushdie as someone who was a disingenuous, who had been saying things that he didn't like in his books.

Now, an exact motive hasn't yet been provided, but in a separate indictment, federal investigators accused Hadi Mattar of carrying this out for Hezbollah, of seeing Salman Rushdie as someone who was a disingenuous, who had been saying things that he didn't like in his books.

I don't think he would. I think he is making these statements as sort of leverage. Look, when you look at Greenland as an island in the Arctic, it's very strategically placed. He's seeing Greenland in the sense that it's part of that geopolitical tension and competition with China and Russia. who have their eyes on the Arctic, of course.

I don't think he would. I think he is making these statements as sort of leverage. Look, when you look at Greenland as an island in the Arctic, it's very strategically placed. He's seeing Greenland in the sense that it's part of that geopolitical tension and competition with China and Russia. who have their eyes on the Arctic, of course.

Greenland also has rich minerals, which would certainly be very beneficial to the United States. So certainly when Donald Trump makes these statements, you kind of understand that he is thinking about projecting, as I say, again, strength in terms of competition with China and Russia. It's interesting that this also comes as his son, Don Jr., is in Greenland.

Greenland also has rich minerals, which would certainly be very beneficial to the United States. So certainly when Donald Trump makes these statements, you kind of understand that he is thinking about projecting, as I say, again, strength in terms of competition with China and Russia. It's interesting that this also comes as his son, Don Jr., is in Greenland.