Defense attorneys for Hadi Matar, the man accused of stabbing author Salman Rushdie at Chautauqua Institution in August 2022, were granted a delay Wednesday for a trial that was supposed to start next week.

The delay allows the defense to try and get an advanced copy of Rushdie's new book, "Knife: Meditations After an Attempted Murder," set to be released in April.

"It's information we're entitled to see," said Ned Barone, Chautauqua County public defender.

The defense will also subpoena Rushdie's book notes and any recordings to help ensure Matar gets a fair trial.

If the defense does not readily get the information it needs, it will have to buy a copy of the book when it comes out, which could delay the trial even further.

"The bottom line is regardless of what the district attorney wants, regardless of what Mr. Rushdie wants, I don't care. We're entitled to this information and I'm going to do everything I can to make sure I've got it in my possession before we actually start picking a jury,” said Barone.

Prosecutors, who say they also made an attempt to get the book but were denied, were opposed to the delay.

"It's frustrating because we have to piece together these trials. We issued subpoenas,” Jason Schmidt, Chautauqua County district attorney. “I've been preparing all through the holiday season, ready for jury selection on Jan. 8."

Schmidt says despite that, he'll still be ready to go.

"Pull in witnesses from across the state, outside the state is of course potentially problematic for us, but we will do what's needed to get the job done, which is to go to trial and get our conviction,” Schmidt.

Matar needed a minute with his attorney before agreeing to the delay so Barone can get what he needs.

"He wants to move on like everyone else,” said Barone. “I'm confident he completely understands that and he understands the potential benefit in this information."

A new trial date has not been set.