Hadi Matar is pictured seated at the defense table Friday.

MAYVILLE – Jurors who will determine the fate of a man who is accused of attempting to kill a world-renown author by stabbing him multiple times two and a half years ago were shown videos of the event.

On Friday, the prosecution played four video clips recorded on Aug. 12, 2022 when Salman Rushdie and Henry Reece were to give a presentation at Chautauqua Institution, but were interrupted when Rushdie was attacked.

Christine McKay, the executive producer at Chautauqua Institution explained the process of how they both record and livestream events. She oversees a team of people, some who use hand-held cameras, while other cameras are fixed to a specific place.

McKay noted that she was watching the event on screen when the attack took place. She immediately cut the live feed, but the recordings remained.

All four videos were fairly short – around 5 minutes or shorter – and provided different angles of the same event.

The first video only showed the moderator welcoming everyone before loud screaming could be heard and he took off on foot, off screen.

The second video follows the moderator as he runs from the podium toward a scrum of people. It appears to show an individual being placed in handcuffs and another group of individuals holding up someone’s legs in the air as medical attention is provided. The faces could not be seen.

The third and fourth videos show what appears to be Hadi Matar wearing a black face mask and attacking another individual by swinging a knife. The mask covers his mouth but the top of his head is clearly visible.

The fourth video, in particular, appears to show Matar making multiple undercut slashing motions, attacking another person.

Matar, 27, has been charged with second-degree attempted murder for the attack on Rushdie and second-degree assault for the attack on Reese.

During cross examination, Assistant Public Defender Andrew Brautigam asked McKay if it is possible for someone who is responsible to download the files to alter them in some way.

“It’s possible,” McKay replied.