MAYVILLE – The trial for Hadi Matar is continuing today, despite the absence of the public defender.

Around 9:30 a.m. Monday Assistant Public Defender Andrew Brautigam requested for a continuance of the trial. He noted that Public Defender Nathaniel Barone is currently hospitalized over illness.

“This puts us in a very difficult position,” Brautigam said.

He requested either a continuance for the full morning or longer.

District Attorney Jason Schmidt said while he sympathizes with the defense, he said he has previously expressed concerns regarding Barone’s health and noted that they have scheduling issues with any sort of a delay. “The defense has had more than enough time to prepare for today,” he said.

Many of the witnesses for the trial are from out of town.

Judge David Foley ruled against a continuance.

He said the defense should have been prepared for this possibility. He noted that multiple members of the Public Defenders Office have been working with Matar in preparing for his defense. “Three defense attorneys are seasoned and capable,” he said.

The jury was brought in around 9:45 a.m.

Matar is accused of stabbing world-renown author Salman Rushdie a dozen times just before he was to give a lecture at Chautauqua Institution in August, 2022.

Matar could be heard saying “free Palestine” as he entered the court.

There are around 50 members of various media in attendance.