In a surprising turn of events, the trial of Hadi Matar, the man accused of attempting to murder renowned author Salman Rushdie, may face a delay due to Rushdie's plans to publish a book about the 2022 attack. Attorneys involved in the case revealed on Tuesday that Matar is entitled to access the manuscript and related materials as part of his trial preparation. Chautauqua County Judge David Foley, during a pretrial conference, stated that Matar and his attorney have until Wednesday to decide whether they want to postpone the trial until they have the book in their possession.

Rushdie, who was left severely injured with a damaged hand and blinded in his right eye during the August 2022 assault, announced in October that he had written a memoir titled "Knife: Meditations After an Attempted Murder." The book, which delves into the horrifying incident, is set to be released in April and is already available for pre-order. However, Rushdie's representatives have declined the prosecutor's request for a copy of the manuscript, citing intellectual property rights.

Defense attorney Nathaniel Barone expressed his preference for a trial delay, emphasizing that Matar should have access to every detail related to the book, including Rushdie's notes, discussions, and recordings. Barone also mentioned that Rushdie's memoir is just one aspect of the evidence that needs to be considered in the trial.

District Attorney Jason Schmidt, on the other hand, downplayed the relevance of Rushdie's book in the upcoming trial. Schmidt argued that the attack had occurred in front of a large live audience and had been recorded, suggesting that Rushdie's own testimony, along with the witnesses and evidence already available, would be sufficient for the prosecution. Schmidt revealed that the motive behind the attack had not been disclosed.

Matar, a 26-year-old dual citizen of the United States and Lebanon, has been held without bail since his immediate arrest following the stabbing incident at the Chautauqua Institution, a renowned summer arts and education retreat in western New York. Schmidt previously stated that Matar was on a "mission to kill Mr. Rushdie" when he rushed from the audience to the stage and viciously stabbed the author multiple times before being subdued by onlookers.

In a jailhouse interview with The New York Post, Matar praised the late Iranian leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini and accused Rushdie of "attacking Islam." This statement aligns with the historical context surrounding Rushdie's life, as the author was forced into hiding for several years after Khomeini issued a fatwa in 1989, calling for his death following the publication of his controversial novel, "The Satanic Verses."

While the trial preparation was already underway, the revelation of Rushdie's book has added a new layer of complexity to the proceedings. The decision on whether to delay the trial will be made by Matar and his attorney before Wednesday's deadline. Jury selection is currently scheduled to begin on January 8th.