Rushdie's wife, Rachel Eliza Griffiths, was present in the courtroom, visibly emotional during his testimony, having rushed to be by his side after the stabbing.

During his testimony, Rushdie recounted his recovery process, stating he feels he has regained about 75% to 80% of his previous physical abilities.

Court officials are enforcing strict confidentiality regarding Rushdie's testimony to ensure security, with protective orders issued to keep juror identities private.

Prosecutors indicated that the fatwa issued against Rushdie in 1989 would not be discussed in court, as it is not necessary to prove motive for the charges against Matar.

Matar is also facing federal charges for terrorism linked to Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed Lebanese group.

Jury selection has concluded, with 12 jurors chosen from 27 candidates who acknowledged familiarity with the case but claimed they could remain impartial.

The trial of Hadi Matar, the man accused of attempting to kill author Salman Rushdie, commenced in Mayville, New York, with eyewitnesses recounting the harrowing events of the attack during a lecture in August 2022.

Prosecutor Jason Schmidt plans to focus on the details of the attack using video evidence and witness testimonies, rather than delving into Matar's ideological motivations.

Schmidt emphasized that the attack was not a case of mistaken identity, asserting that Matar deliberately targeted Rushdie during the public event.

Prosecutors described the attack as rapid and unexpected, with Rushdie remaining seated during the initial stab wounds.

Attendees quickly subdued Matar after the attack, preventing further harm to Rushdie.

Prior to the attack, Rushdie had reported feeling that the threats against him had lessened, indicating a return to a relatively normal life.