Hadi Matar, the man charged in the stabbing of author Salman Rushdie, did not testify in his federal terrorism trial and the defense ended its case without calling any witnesses. The decision came Tuesday in Buffalo, New York, as the proceedings moved closer to closing arguments.
According to the case update, Matar's lawyer told the court that the 28-year-old would not take the stand. With the defense resting without presenting testimony, the trial was expected to move quickly toward the jury.
The federal case centers on the attack on Rushdie and has been described as a terrorism prosecution. The latest development means jurors could soon begin weighing the evidence after hearing final arguments, which were expected Wednesday morning.
The trial's next stage is likely to focus on prosecutors' and defense lawyers' final summaries before deliberations begin. The decision not to call witnesses leaves the existing courtroom record as the basis for the jury's review.
