Hadi Matar, the defendant in the federal terrorism trial stemming from the 2022 stabbing of author Salman Rushdie, has declined to testify or call any witnesses in his defense.
The decision marks the conclusion of the defense case, with the matter expected to be handed over to the jury for deliberation as early as Wednesday.
Matar was previously convicted on state-level charges of attempted murder for the attack, which left Rushdie blind in one eye and caused severe internal injuries.
The federal prosecution seeks to establish that the act was motivated by terrorism, a charge that carries distinct legal implications and potential sentencing enhancements compared to the state conviction.
The trial has drawn significant international attention, but the procedural move to skip testimony is unlikely to trigger immediate reactions in financial markets.
No specific corporate or macroeconomic indicators are directly tied to the outcome of this legal proceeding.