New York, February 22 (HS): The Chautauqua County Court in western New York convicted 27-year-old Hadi Matar, accused of attacking Indian-British writer Salman Rushdie with a knife three years ago. Rushdie was the main witness during the testimony process that began last week. Rushdie also showed his right eye to the jury members, which has lost its vision due to the attack.

According to the news of The New York Times, the jury also found Hadi Matar guilty of attacking the person who was on stage with Rushdie at the time. The incident of attack on Salman Rushdie is of August 12, 2022. The accused climbed on the stage and stabbed Rushdie 15 times. In this attack, the 77-year-old writer lost vision in one eye. The judge has set April 23 as the date for sentencing. Matar can be jailed for up to 32 years. District Attorney Jason Schmidt showed the jury a video of the attack during cross-examination on Friday. In it, the attacker is seen climbing onto the stage and running towards Rushdie.

Booker Prize winner Rushdie told the jurors that the attacker kept stabbing him with a knife until bystanders caught him. Schmidt reminded the jurors of the testimony of a trauma surgeon who said Rushdie's injuries could have been fatal without prompt treatment.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar