(NY Post) The suspect in the upstate stabbing of Salman Rushdie pleaded not guilty during an arraignment Saturday afternoon, during which the prosecutor detailed an extensive list of the famed writer’s injuries.
Hadi Matar, 24, was charged with attempted murder and assault and entered the plea during a proceeding at the Chautauqua County Courthouse in Mayville — after news outlets, including the Post, pushed to open the court appearance to the public.
He allegedly rushed the stage at the Chautauqua Institution Friday morning where Rushdie, 75, was beginning a lecture on freedom of expression.
“This was a targeted, pre-planned unprovoked attack on Mr. Rushdie,” said Chautauqua County District Attorney Jason Schmidt during the arraignment.
