Three Philly Gay-Bashing Suspects Will Face Trial | Advocate.com

Although I haven't posted about this incident, I have been following the case as it travels through the court system. I am glad to see that these three little fuckers will face a judge,,,

The three suspects in the attack on a gay couple in Philadelphia in September will go to trial early next year.

At a preliminary hearing Tuesday, Judge Charles Hayden said there was sufficient evidence to prosecute defendants Kathryn Knott, Kevin Harrigan, and Philip Williams on felony assault and conspiracy charges, among others, reports Philadelphia Magazine. They will be arraigned, that is, officially called before the court, January 6,

Prosecutors called victim Zachary Hesse and witness Geoff Nagle to testify at the hearing regarding the attack in Philadelphia's heavily gay Center City neighborhood. Hesse and his boyfriend, Andrew Haught, were confronted on the street by a crowd of people the night of September 11. Hesse testified that after a short exchange of words, Harrigan asked if he was “a dirty faggot,” which led to Hesse being shoved and shoving back, reports TV station WCAU.

“I approached him and said, ‘Maybe I am a dirty fucking faggot,” Hesse said. “He pushed me, I pushed him.”

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Response by politicians and residents to the attack was swift and strong, demanding that Pennsylvania hate-crimes law be expanded to cover crimes motivated by a victim's sexual orientation or gender identity. Because the state law lacks this provision, the attack is not being investigated as a hate crime despite the use of slurs to start the altercation.

Three Philly Gay-Bashing Suspects Will Face Trial | Advocate.com