Mathar appeared in the court wearing a black and white prison uniform. He remained silent during the bail hearing. Public defender Nathaniel Baron told the court that Mather has no criminal record and will not leave the country. He also asked the judge to bar journalists from trying to contact Mathar in jail. He also stated that Mathar receives hundreds of phone calls in jail.
Some other media had come forward against Mattar giving an interview to the New York Times. In this interview, Mather explains why he dislikes Rushdie. And he praised Iran’s leader, Grand Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.
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Khomeini had said in 1989 that he would kill Rushdie for his novel ‘The Satanic Verses’, which some Muslims consider blasphemous. An Iranian foundation has announced a 3 million doshre to kill Rushdie.
Mather’s lawyer also suggested that too much media coverage could cause a jury to analyze the matter in a biased manner.
“The accused has the right to a fair trial. Lawyer Baron also pointed out that whatever the charges against the accused, he is entitled to due process. Judge David Foley rejected the lawyers’ request to contact the media. The judge also ordered that none of the lawyers involved in the case give interviews.
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75-year-old Salman Rushdie is being treated at a hospital in Pennsylvania with serious injuries. His liver is damaged. Nerves in one hand were severed and an eye was lost. Rushdie’s agent, Andrew Wylie, released the information about his health condition. Meanwhile, Chautauqua County District Attorney Jason Schmitt alleged that the incident was premeditated.
Rushdie came to New York to discuss the protection of writers and freedom of expression. Mather jumped to the podium. Henty Rees, 73, co-founder of Pittsburgh’s City of Asylum, was on stage with Rushdie. He sustained minor injuries including a cut on his forehead.
Mather lived with his mother in Fairview, New Jersey. The case against him is under the sections of attempted murder and assault. If convicted, he could face decades in prison.
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