Original Suit Was for $500,000
Andrew Haught and Zachary Hesse, victims of a widely-publicized anti-gay hate crime attack three years ago in downtown Philadelphia, have settled a $500,000 civil suit against three attackers: Kathryn Knott, Kevin Harrigan, and Philip Williams. The amount of the settlement was not disclosed, Philly Voice reports.
On the night of Sept. 11, 2014, Haught and Hesse were walking when they were verbally, then physically accosted by Knott and a large group of friends. Fists and homophobic slurs were thrown at the couple. The attack was so vicious Haught had to have his jaw wired shut for months. The lawsuit, filed in May of 2016, also mentioned “sustained psychological injury, emotional distress, mental anguish, humiliation and embarrassment.”
It was one of the first times social media was put to use to identify perpetrators. On Twitter, photos emerged and amateur internet sleuths quickly identified the assailants. Police took over from there.
Harriagan and Williams both took generous plea deals – mostly community service – but Knott, the daughter of a local police chief, refused, went to trial, and lost.
She “was convicted of simple assault, conspiracy to commit simple assault and two counts of reckless endangerment. She was sentenced to five to 10 months in prison, two years’ probation and a $2,000 fine,” Philly Voice reports. “She served five months at the Riverside Correctional Facility and was released from prison in June 2016.”
In court in 2015, the details of the assault were revealed.
“What is that, your fucking boyfriend?,†one of the three assailants, Kevin Harrigan, yelled – unprovoked – at the couple according to Zachary Hesse, the victim who ended up with a black eye, as Philadelphia magazine reported. Hesse told the court he responded, “Yeah, so what if it is my boyfriend?”
He said Harrigan shot back in a “tough-guy” tone: “I guess you’re a dirty fucking faggot then.” Hesse approached Harrigan and shouted the same words back at him. Harrigan then pushed him, Hesse testified, and he pushed back. That’s when Harrigan punched him.
Hesse testified the ensuing incident was “terrifying.” He said the group shouted “fucking faggot” and “dirty faggot” constantly; he said it was said “more than 10, more than 20 times.” He threw a punch but it didn’t connect. About six people grabbed his arms, he said in court, and eventually Kathryn Knott threw a punch or slap — he closed his eyes when he saw her open hand coming toward his face — at him while shouting the slur. He identified Knott has his assailant in court.
After losing, Knott tried to take the plea deal originally offered, but a judge refused. She had also, while serving out her sentence, requested to be allowed to do radio PSAs in lieu of jail time. That request was also refused.
The civil case was scheduled to go to trial next month.
RELATED:
Philly Hate Attack Suspect Kathryn Knott: No One Said ‘F****t’ And ‘I Turned And Ran’ Away
Philly Court Document: Attackers Repeatedly Punched Gay Men, Called Them ‘Faggots’
Philly Hate Attacker Kathryn Knott’s Early Release Request Refused
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Image by Victor Fiorillo via Twitter
Hat tip: Queerty
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