Philly Anti-Gay Hate Attack Suspects Determined To Fight Charges In Court

The three 20-something year olds charged with the brutal assault of a Philadelphia same-sex couple on Sept. 11 are fighting the charges.

On Tuesday, Philadelphia prosecutor Michael Barry will begin to make the case against Philip Williams, 24, Kathryn Knott, 24, and Kevin Harrigan, 26, who are charged with aggravated assault, simple assault, and recklessly endangering another person (REAP), for the September 11 attack against an unnamed same-sex couple. Wiliams and Harrigan are also charged with conspiracy. In late September the trio were arraigned and released on bond of $50,000 to $75,000.

“Here’s what we can expect to happen,” Josh Middleton at PhillyMag.com reports. “The case will be brought before a municipal court judge to determine if there was probable cause to arrest the suspects in September. Attorney for Kevin Harrigan, Josh Scarpello, tells me, ‘we won’t decide the truth of the matter in that first hearing. It is a probable-cause hearing to establish if the case should go to trial.'” 

Scarpello confirms that all three defendants have pleaded not guilty.

If the case goes to trial — and if no plea bargain is reached — Scarpello suggests that there might not be a trial date until well into the new year. “The earliest would be February or March,” he says. “If it’s scheduled to be a jury trial, it could take even longer.”

Both of the victims were hospitalized, with one of the men having to have his jaw wired shut for months.

“Is this your f***ing boyfriend?,” was one of the questions one of the 12 had for the two men. “Are you a dirty fag?” was another.

Stay tuned.

 

Here are a few of the story’s earlier reports:

Philly Hate Attack Mob Claiming Self Defense After Brutal Beating Sends Gay Men To Hospital

Philly Court Document: Attackers Repeatedly Punched Gay Men, Called Them ‘Faggots’

Tweets Reveal Arrested Suspect In Philadelphia Anti-Gay Attack Has Homophobic History

 

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