Trial of man accused of trying to kill Salman Rushdie to begin

Hadi Matar denies the charges (AP)

Lawyers are scheduled to deliver their opening statements at the trial of the man charged with trying to fatally stab author Sir Salman Rushdie in front of a lecture audience in western New York.

Sir Salman, 77, is expected to give evidence during the trial in New York State of Hadi Matar – bringing the writer face-to-face with his alleged attacker for the first time in more than two years.