A protection order has been requested for witnesses in the upcoming trial against the man who attacked author Salman Rushdie.
Chautauqua County district attorney Jason Schmidt requested the order to keep the identities of potential witnesses secret and asked for more time for evidence in the case to be examined.
At the hearing at Chautauqua County Court in New York state, 24-year-old Hadi Matar appeared for a fourth time, having pleaded not guilty to attempted murder and assault charges last month.
Judge David Foley scheduled a further hearing for tomorrow, in which he is expected to issue a ruling as to whether to grant more time to the district attorney's office.
Mr Matar, of Fairview, New Jersey in the US was indicted on the charges by a grand jury following the incident on 12 August.
He was arrested after allegedly rushing on to the stage at the Chautauqua Institution, stabbing Mr Rushdie about a dozen times including in the neck and eye while he was in front of a crowd.
He was later charged with one count of second-degree attempted murder, which carries a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison, and one count of second-degree assault.
Judge Foley previously refused to grant bail.
