Philly Accused Anti-Gay Hate Attackers One Small Step Closer To Justice

The three accused Philadelphia anti-gay hate attack defendants are another step closer to justice after a court arraignment this week. 

Philip Williams, Kevin Harrigan, and Kathryn Knott stand accused of attacking a same-sex couple in downtown Philadelphia on September 11. The couple, now named as Zachary Hesse and Andrew Haught, suffered serious injuries, and one had to have his jaw wired shut, reportedly for several months.

On Tuesday a preliminary arraignment was held in the case of the three accused attackers, as Philadelphia Gay News reports.

The charges against Kathryn Knott, Kevin Harrigan and Philip Williams were officially read in court Tuesday, and the case was listed with the Court of Common Pleas. None of the defendants was present.

A pre-trial conference was scheduled for 9 a.m. Feb. 5 in Room 905 of the Criminal Justice Center, 1301 Filbert St., before Common Pleas Judge Frank Palumbo. The proceeding is open to the public.

The three are charged with aggravated assault, simple assault, and recklessly endangering another person (REAP). Williams and Harrigan are also charged with conspiracy. They were all arrested September 24.

Last month, Zachary Hesse testified in court for an hour, accusing Harrigan of asking him that night, “Is that your fucking boyfriend?,” and, “So you’re a dirty, fucking faggot?”

He also told the court Knott “hit me in the face and just kept calling me a ‘dirty, fucking faggot,’ ‘faggot, faggot.'”

Prosecutor Michael Barry says the trial won’t happen anytime soon. 

“It’s safe to say it won’t happen in the next couple months,” Barry says.

 

Image via Twitter