Sir Salman Rushdie knew 'quite clearly' he was dying as he faces knife attack accused in court Sir Salman Rushdie described in graphic detail the frenzied moments a masked knifeman attacked him, telling a New York court, “It occurred to me quite clearly I was dying”.
Schmidt has said discussing Matar's motive would be unnecessary in the state trial, given the attack was seen by a live audience that was expecting to hear Rushdie present a lecture on keeping writers safe.
Sir Salman, the author of "Midnight's Children" and "Victory City," spent years in hiding after Khomeini announced the fatwa in 1989 following the publication of the novel "The Satanic Verses," which some Muslims consider blasphemous.
Jurors are unlikely to hear about a fatwa issued by the late Iranian leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini calling for Rushdie's death, according to District Attorney Jason Schmidt.
The 77-year-old author addressed jurors on the second day of testimony at the trial of Hadi Matar, 27, who has pleaded not guilty to attempted murder and assault in the attack.
