Judge upholds charges in beating of gay couple
A judge refused to dismiss charges against Philip Williams, 24, Kevin Harrigan, 26, and Kathryn Knott, 24, who are accused of attacking a gay couple last year in Center City.
A Common Pleas Court judge on Thursday upheld charges against three people accused of beating a gay couple in Center City last year.
Judge Frank Palumbo denied defense motions to quash aggravated assault and conspiracy charges against Philip Williams, 24, of Warminster; Kevin Harrigan, 26, of Warrington; and Kathryn Knott, 24, of Southampton.
A trial date has not yet been set for the trio, who remain free on bail. They are next due in court May 21.
Williams, Harrigan, and Knott were walking in a group of about a dozen people the night of Sept. 11, 2014, when they encountered the two victims near 16th and Chancellor streets, police said.
Some of the people in the group allegedly lobbed anti-gay slurs at the men, and a fight ensued. The brawl left both victims hospitalized, one of them with severe facial fractures, according to investigators.
The case drew national attention and prompted Philadelphia City Council to pass an LGBT-inclusive municipal hate crime ordinance.