The three violent homophobic assailants charged with beating a gay couple unconscious in an unprovoked gay bashing in Philadelphia on September 11th were arraigned last night and released on bail around 3:30am.
24-year-old Kathryn Knott was released on $50,000 bail, while 24-year-old Philip Williams and 26-year-old Kevin Harrigan were released on $75,000 bail.
Despite being involved in a beating that hospitalized both victims and forced one to have his jaw wired shut, they’re still all maintaining their innocence and claiming the fight was mutually initiated, as if that would make this ok.
Kathryn Knott had become the focal point of community outrage toward the case after it was learned that her father is the Chalfont, Pennsylvania police chief, a fact that could possibly explain the police department’s failure to identify the suspects (citizens did it for them), failure to arrest them within an appropriate amount of time (it took 6 days) and general careless attitude toward the case — one police source told Philly mag this week that police “don’t have time” to investigate “simple” crimes like these.
How about we take this to the next level?
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It is being reported that Knott has been suspended from her job as an emergency room technician at Lansdale Hospital, where she has worked since May 2011, due to questionable activity on her Twitter feed.
Yesterday, we reported the extreme homophobic nature of her tweets dating back several years, and several tweets that included photos of patients in the hospital, a major violation of physician-patient privilege.
According to Philly.com:
Her tweets have also drawn the attention of her employer: Abington Health is investigating her account, on which she posted complaints about unnamed patients and photos of patient X-rays and unusual injuries, including a photo of a patient’s two dismembered fingers in a plastic bag.
The tweets could violate the hospital’s patient-privacy and social-media policies, according to the statement from Abington Health.
In interviews with investigators, the victims confirmed that Harrigan was the first to yell gay slurs, and that Williams and Knott joined in the assault after it was initiated.
It appears as though the three assailants are already getting special treatment from the media. In the exclusive CBS report that aired this morning, all three got a golden edit, and all three defense attorneys were allowed to present the points of their case to the camera. No air time for the victims or any credible defense of the victims.
Yesterday, Knott’s attorney claimed his client is “not homophobic,” and that she was “merely present” when the assault occurred.
The three are expected back in court on Tuesday.
To read more about the assault, check out our previous coverage.
Cam
Of COURSE the media is supporting them. They are all privileged well connected young folks who attacked a gay couple.
I mean remember, according to much of the media, if the gay couple had just stayed in the closet and wasn’t public about their disgusting selves, these poor sweet innocent wonderful people wouldn’t have had to violently attack them and put them both in the hospital……..for their own good.
It’s already begun, they will get let off.
And did you notice how it was Knott who started the entire thing and yet she had the lowest bail?
pressuredrop
At least somebody knows that these people are disgusting monsters, even if the court probably won’t deliver justice.
Matthew Tharrett
@Cam: “And did you notice how it was Knott who started the entire thing and yet she had the lowest bail?”
And don’t forget this comment from yesterday’s thread:
“The three they’re charging are probably all connected somehow with important parents so they will get off where as the other 5 there might have been a possibility they would have to serve time. That’s why they’re not charged.”
The whole situation reeks of police involvement.
Also notice how Knott has been “suspended” and not fired?
Remember that witness who watched from his third-story window? He clearly stated that there was an employee in the FedEx location on the corner where this attack happened, banging on the window, trying to get the attack to stop.
Funny how we haven’t heard from him, either…
MacAdvisor
I don’t like to be the one who throws cold water on this media frenzy, but OF COURSE these people were released on bail. They have a Constitutional right to reasonable bail (see the 8th Amendment). There isn’t any problem of justice of releasing people on bail sufficient to ensure their appearance at trial.
Moreover, of course they are maintaining their innocence “Despite being involved in a beating that hospitalized both victims and forced one to have his jaw wired shut.” Whether they were or were not involved is precisely the point at issue. The article rather assumed facts not yet in evidence.
What’s a “golden edit”? How is this special treatment?
These people are entitled to a presumption of innocence and are, for now, only the alleged attackers. Perhaps we should keep the lynching rope in the cupboard for now, at least until AFTER a trial and conviction.
Stache99
@Cam: I laughed yesterday at that extremely biased report. They just vomited out as fact what the defense attorney told them to say. Giving no alternative explanation to events. Who needs the court when the media has already decided.
Stache99
I love that they’re framing this as a mutual fight when all three suspects don’t have a scratch on them. Yeah, go with that.
Cam
@MacAdvisor: said…
“What’s a “golden edit”? How is this special treatment?”
______________________________
That is a ridiculous comment. When the media is interviewing only their attorney and not having an attorney for the other party or the DC, when the media is reporting what their attorney’s are saying but not laying out the details of the charges etc…
That is the Golden edit, but then again, you already knew that didn’t you?
It was also clever of you to pretend that the complaints on here were about them getting bail. Even though of course you know that isn’t the case, my complaint was that the person witness said STARTED the confrontation, who is the daughter of a Police Chief had a far lower bail than the other two people. Which is it? Reverse sexism or her dad’s connections that made that happened.
DarkZephyr
@MacAdvisor: I invite you to point out one compliant about the fact that they were released on bail. Thanks in advance!
Bauhaus
@ MacAdvisor:
You said: Perhaps we should keep the lynching rope in the cupboard for now…
But that’s exactly what happened to the victims that evening. A public lynching. They had the audacity, apparently, for openly and admittedly being a gay couple.
The victims were confronted by a gang of thugs, taunted, violently beaten and robbed.
The only ones keeping lynching ropes out of cupboards are violent thugs committing hate crimes.
davidtk240
Having grown uo in the suburbs of Philly, I sympathize with the victims. Philadelphia has some notoriously anti-gay males. They will Fuck you up and laugh about it. They are mean spirited cowardly snakes. Maybe too much Catholic School….This police chief’s daughter must be a real “chip off the old block.” Philly sucks!! I’ll never go back.
jaleoman
I hope the 8 homophobes assailants are put in jail. That
Will send a message to the gay bashers. We
Need to start carry gun and fighting back.
maxlovesrio
So much for Philadelphia trying to become a gay tourist destination. We would be crazy to go there for a vacation when there are so many places where you don’t have to worry about being attacked.
Bad Ass Biker
Throw all of the sick bastards in jail – and hope for a little jail house rape.
jkrupiarz
@MacAdvisor: As individuals we’re not required to presume innocence. That’s the judicial system you’re talking about, but we can reach our own conclusions anytime we want based on what we see. The last thing we should do is wait for the corrupt process to play itself out.
nate17
Knott’s father, the chief of police, needs to be investigated! According to her posts she was allowed to go on a raid and kick-in a door, get her father to issue a ticket, and why does he need beer on the job? I have a feeling he may have gotten her out of other situations as well, considering her tweets were filled with drunken adventures. Plus, he probably had his hands in this case as well….
rickhfx
Its should be noted that when a criminal focuses the attack damage to a victims face and head that criminologists and psychologists will tell you the perp has a personal interest in annihilate the victim, that the assault is personal or of a strong personal bias.
pressuredrop
@jaleoman:
No, we don’t need to start “carry gun” and fight back.
Guns probably would not have made this situation better.
michael mellor
Kathryn Knott appears to be your typical American bimbo who spends a large portion of her time talking about herself on the internet. Her twitter posts suggest that she enjoys being ‘one of the boys’, a common affliction of women who seek approval of their behavior from males.
Many such women see male homosexuality as a threat, especially if it exists in public. Male homosexuality threatens ‘girl power’.
SteveDenver
Violent gang members look the same as always, they just got caught.
Alan down in Florida
@Cam: Hate to break it to you Cam but just like MacAdvisor I had never heard of the phrase golden edit until just now in this forum. So don’t think it is a commonplace description that everybody knows and accuse someone of playing dumb.
Paco
So according to the victims, it was one of the males, Harrigan, started it and then the other male and female joined in. Why is the witch getting all of the attention and not the two guys? Bias?
Bauhaus
@ Paco:
1. Her bail was lower
2. Her father is a police chief
3. Her social media has a history of anti-gay rhetoric
4. Her neighbors are not surprised she was arrested for this crime
5. She broke federal privacy laws by posting patient information on her social media
blackberry finn
@michael mellor: Her nationality is irrelevant.
NiceNCool1
No one ANYWHERE has the right to just beat people who aren’t already beating on you. Ever. If they get off with no jail time, which they probably will, they’re continuing to repeat the same terrible precedent over and over again.
lcandela123
So, we are supposed to believe that 2 gay guys out for pizza provokes this attack? A group of 15 muscly, belligerent, drunken a-holes are walking down the street, and out of the blue, one of the gay guys punches one of the girls?? Oh yes, that is so plausible.
And where are her injuries? Did she have her jaw wired shut? No?? How remarkable.
And all of those witnesses saying that the drunks were shouting anti-gay slurs; did they conspire to tell falsehoods? That group of total strangers?
I hope these 3 get absolutely roasted. The other 12, that egged them on, that held the gay guys down, that shouted “faggot”, and then ran off when it was all done, they are just lucky. I hope we see their names, too. Just like Mr. Basketball coach McGlinn. The archdiocese sure didn’t waste any time swallowing his BS. Out with the trash. Lucky he is not in jail, too.
And what of the others? Shall we all gloat as they line up to dump it all on the 3 worst offenders?
I wonder what their NEXT high school reunion is like. I bet none of these cretins show up.
lcandela123
@Paco: who knows Paco. Why are you even concerned?
Bias? What nonsense are you alluding to? No, better you NOT let us know.
lcandela123
@MacAdvisor: yes, yes, of course you are right. We all know this stuff. God, you come off as naive.
Paco
@lcandela123: I was just wondering why there was such a lack of interest in the two guys that probably did most of the face breaking compared to the female assailant. i want to know their pitiful stories too. So excuse the hell out of me for asking for more complete reporting about ALL the assailants and not just the bitch, bitch.
Cam
@lcandela123: said.. “And all of those witnesses saying that the drunks were shouting anti-gay slurs; did they conspire to tell falsehoods? That group of total strangers?”
__________________________
You make an EXCELLENT point. If those other 8 are lying about what happened, then that sounds like either obstruction of justice or conspiracy.
1EqualityUSA
Where was Mit Romney on this day?….
cvdixon29
@Bad Ass Biker: Your comment makes you just as bad as them….
Bauhaus
@ Paco:
First, you were wondering about the lack of ATTENTION.
Then, you wondered about INTEREST.
Two different things. If the two male thugs have any dirt to be dug up, it will be of interest, and brought to the attention of all, including the prosecution and DA.
frubino
Oh yeah, beautiful faces, their eyes blue, pink colors, the girls must be completely free yourself …. you little fingers with marmalade brains …. you never really learned in school about civics. Poodle and Persian cats, your mom must be like Peggy Bundy, from the series Married with Children …
queenrosered
@frubino: Time to get back on your meds dude, lol. Reading your comment was like looking at a Picasso. It makes ZERO sense.
lockup studios
Well Dan White crawled thru a basement window to get past the metal detectors .Then emptied his gun in Mayor Moscone .Then reloaded and walked thru several offices and found Harvey Milk and murdered him .And because Harvey was gay only got 5 years for manslaughter .Had he only killed the Mayor he would still be in prison 35 years later !!
Stache99
@lockup studios: I hear what your saying. People think that the courts are going to be law and order like you see on TV but reality is far different. Jurer’s will side with those that they feel camaraderie with and it’s not going to be the couple.