Three violent gay bashers from the group of eight who assaulted and subsequently hospitalized a gay couple in an unprovoked attack in Center City on September 11 have turned themselves in to police this morning.
We reported yesterday that charges of aggravated assault, simple assault, recklessly endangering another person, and criminal conspiracy were filed by the Philadelphia DA against 24-year-old Philip Williams, 26-year-old Kevin Harrigan, and 24-year-old Kathryn Knott, three of the eight assailants who instigated the attack.
An investigation into the incident took longer than expected — six full days after assailants were identified — and ended yesterday, effectively letting at least five violent homophobic assailants back onto the street without consequence for their involvement in the attack.
What took so long, you ask? 24-year-old Kathryn Knott is apparently the daughter of Chalfont, Pennsylvania Police Chief Karl Knott, and as we previously noted, charges and consequences for the crime would most likely depend on the assailants’ wealth status and relation to the police department.
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It appears as though all the kids involved are well-connected on both fronts, and this assault could have likely gone totally unpunished if it weren’t for excellent detective work conducted by citizens on Twitter and heavy media attention.
On Monday, a police source told G Philly that they “didn’t have time” to investigate “simple” crimes like this.
Several witnesses and the victims confirmed they were assaulted by at least eight from an unruly, “visibly intoxicated” and “well dressed” group of 12, Knott’s attorney says she was not an aggressor.
“She in no way participated in the assault of anyone,” he said. “(And) she didn’t hurl an insult or a slur, of any kind.”
ABC 6 reporters spoke with the Knott family’s Southampton neighbors about the incident, who said they “weren’t surprised” by the charges against Knott.
NBC Philadelphia also confirmed this morning that many members of the violent gang are former students of Archbishop Wood High School, a Catholic institution. Last week, the school’s assistant basketball coach Fran McGlinn was fired after his involvement in the attack was learned.
Though the attack was most certainly based on the victims’ sexual orientation, hate crime charges cannot be filed because Pennsylvania law only recognizes hate crimes as “motivated by race, religion and ethnicity.”
Yesterday, lawmakers in favor of updating the state’s hate crime law to include sexual orientation held a rally at the capitol.
Don’t be surprised when all three of these kids get off scot-free or with light community service. This is America, after all, where we reserve things like liberty and justice for the ultra-rich whose daddies have badges.
Update: Twitter has confirmed this woman to be a spoiled brat, as well as a well-documented homophobe.
RyanT625
“She in no way participated in the assault of anyone,” he said. “(And) she didn’t hurl an insult or a slur, of any kind.”
OH HOW RIGHTEOUS of her, what a SAINT!! please she still didnt stop them, try to stop them, OH and it took 3 indictments and 6 days for her to come forward, didnt participate, didnt hurl an insult or slur, MY ASS!, her inexplicable direct knowledge yet lack of participation seems kind of suspicious, although we are dealing with a police family here, NO ONE should be surprised.
Gothrykke
She probably started it. My own sister is one of the biggest homophobes on the planet and always started things.
Cam
“”ABC 6 reporters spoke with the Knott family’s Southampton neighbors about the incident, who said they “weren’t surprised” by the charges against Knott.”
_____________________
Sounds like she has been getting away with things like this for years.
Ron Jackson
They sound like PWS. (Privileged White Scum)
Stache99
@Cam: Ha. Funny because no one ever says that. It’s always “she always seemed so nice”. I mean it’s all of her neighbors that are calling her a POS.
Cam
@Stache99:
I know! That is the shocking part, that all of her neighbors are basically saying “Yeah, no surprise that she is a violent criminal.”
Stache99
On the plus side at least they’re getting their names and photo’s out.
Lvng1tor
YES This ANGEL of a human being would NEVER hurl a gay insult, say something bad about gays or advocate/participate in violence against gays……so lets take a look at her TWITTER… https://storify.com/Clarknt67/meet-defendant-kathryn-knott Well gosh….maybe she would! Normally I don’t do the whole character assassination thing before the trial but hey she wanted the world to see her thoughts, dreams, wishes and actions in real time thru Social Media, Or as I like to call it “Exhibit A”!
rickhfx
They don’t need to be charged with a hate crime, ( they don’t even have hate crime law in that state) they need to be charged with terrorism, the assault had the effect on the entire GLBT community, by the nature of the gay slurs and who they attacked, a historically and currently savagely attacked minority group by straight bigots. I know as a member of the GLBT community it terrorized me just to hear about yet another attack. The targeted attack sent a message loud and clear that “we” are not safe in our society. The police chief needs to resign, and make a strong statement that bias crimes will be prosecuted to the fullest. Not too may GLBT are going to feel confidant in reporting bias crimes to that police department now.
Lets not be too surprised that the perps are Catholic, the book they worship and follow, with a lot of cherry picking, clearly says men that lay with men like they would with women must be killed. I have yet to hear any Catholic denounce that “book of hate”.
Gian Paul Graziosi
http://6abc.com/news/3-charged-in-attack-on-gay-couple-surrender/320968/
6-Abc Action News unfairly covered the Gay Hate Crime Bashing by giving the defense ATTORNEYS of the perpetrators significant airtime to refute their crimes. For the victims, commentary from a FRIEND without legal credentials gave no response to counter these claims, leading to CHARACTER SALVATION of the alleged criminals.
Stache99
@Gian Paul Graziosi: I know it’s the attorneys job to spin this in his client favor but it’s still sickening to hear. Strange how the couple ends up in the hospital with one having his jaw wired shut while the these thugs look pretty free of any trauma. Even if words were exchanged so effing what.
Leonard Woodrow
I’d like to know how they are going to prove that.
Leonard Woodrow
(((“She in no way PARTICIPATED in the assault of anyone,” he said. “(And) she didn’t hurl an insult or a slur, of any kind.”)))
I’d like to know how they are going to prove that.
Curtispsf
My folks always told me that you judge people by the company they keep.
No way ANYONE will be convicted in this assault. Justice = “Just US” doing what we always do. Kids do the darndest things, you know?
Stache99
@Curtispsf: Much as I hate to say this I agree. A slap on the wrist like community service at best. However, they can’t stop a civil lawsuit and I hope the couple profit heavily.
corey
Hopefully their lives will be ruined in one way or another: Run for office, children told what horrible parents they have, denied employment, etc…
Maude
Any good attorney can get a copy of the surveillance tape and have a private examiner review it.
If she is on the tape, then it may be proved one way or the other whether she participated in the violent assault on these two gay boys.
David
At this point, other members of the group must have gotten immunity for testifying against these three. If the woman was assaulted, all of those people would have corroborated that and the gay guy would have been charged.
“She’s a wonderful girl from a fine, law enforcement family” isnt’ exactly borne out by her homophobic and alcoholic twitter feed.
Furthermore, if innocent, why flee the scene and steal a bag? If it wasn’t stolen, why not call the person whose identification is in the bag and return it?
SteveDenver
As expected, Philly police aren’t really interested in thoroughly investigating this crime. Why were charges not filed against McGlinn? Seems the Archdiocese can find grounds for dismissal but the police aren’t that concerned.
Someone local should start a campaign of notoriety: posters, fliers, emails, Facebook postinge — complete saturation on every front to let this crime and the gang members be known.
Use that picture from the celebration dinner: “15 of these people committed a hate crime.” Vilify them all and make their lives sh!t.
deltabadhand
All I know is she’d better be careful to never sit in the chair of a gay hair stylist ever again… 😉
a308936
ha. the one on the right will have a real good time in prison.
Amalgamate
@Stache99: -no, there are numerous witnesses who saw her striking the victims-Daddy cant save her
SteveDenver
Reporter Chad Pradelli stated that one of the “alleged victims” punched a young woman in the face. This is not proven, is incendiary and really smacks of something FOX News would pull.
tommie53
I hope justice prevails and the couple sues all 8 Haters for damages. It’s so ridiculous that when they do jump Gay people it’s always a crowd of them suckers. What a bunch of sissies.
StephK
If there is any consolation here, it is that these privileged thugs will always have this ugly incident w/ video & images come up when their names are googled. Court records couldn’t expunge their infamy once it has caught the attention of the internet, and that in itself is a karmic payback & punishment. Re: Ms. Knott’s tweets as linked with by a previous post..well, it is apparent that she is really nothing more than a skanky lush. How else would you interpret those tweets?
HereinDC
IF she’s so innocent…..and with her being such a prolific Twitter user…..why didn’t she tweet about being attacked by those 2 thugs?
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
HereinDC
@StephK: You left out the Civil Suit that requires less evidence for a positive case.
All in all…..these 3 are screwed for the rest of their lives.
HereinDC
@SteveDenver: Oh…let the court system work…..it will……can’t expect instant justice……give it time….
And don’t forget…..there is the other legal matter of Civil Lawsuits….which have a lower level of proof to be found guilty
StephK
@HereinDC: and that’s a good thing! 😉
neutral nurse
Kathryn is not a nurse…she is young, stupid & spoiled. I have worked with her for 3 years and she is kind & compassionate. Maybe we should all reserve our judgement and retaliative hate till all the facts are in. It is sad that her name and personal info is being smeared all over the media. It seems like she is already convicted!!!
vonric
@neutral nurse: so according to you, she is young, stupid, spoiled, kind and compassionate.
would seem to me that anyone with even a touch of compassion would not get involved in verbal and physical sparring as part of an evening out in the Big City. @neutral nurse:
vonric
all three of these jerks are going to be dealing with the subtle, but very, very real, mutual dislike of urbanites vs the “white flight” suburbanites. The latter pride themselves on their “proper” parochial school education and their life in the burbs.. these are not kids from the rich suburbs (Philadelphia’s wealthy “Main Line” with the perpetually preppy constituency, with power daddies and now power mommies) , but the “close in suburbs” ..these suburbs that are filled with folks who have fled the city because they cannot hack it….. this bunch of moderately spoiled bigots were “in the big city” for an evening of excitement – and they got it. These folks are naieve bigots, don’t like gays, don’t like Blacks, and probably don’t even much like the ethnic ‘hoods that their daddies and mommies fled to the presumed safety of a middle class blue collar lilly-white suburb just across the city lines. Frnakly, for my part, those bratty and utterly naieve kids can stay and rot in their narrowminded enclaves… keep them out of MY urban enviornment, where I can see two daddies in Rittenhouse Square playing with their kids, watch two guys and two gals at a local restaurant have an evening out – two gay couples….
frankly, although I may be too optimistic, I do not think the urban courts will be all that kind to these immature brats who skiv out because they see a gay couple……being the daughter of a Bucks County police chief ain’t gonna be a big card to play in the city…
Mikah
Nothing but a bunch of homophobic scum.This is so upsetting,fuck all of them.
mezzacanadese
I am glad that these people have been caught, and I hope that justice prevails.
rickhfx
Twitter post
Kathryn Knott @kathryn_knott · 20 Feb 2013
A patient gave me a bag of ice with his two fingers in it!
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BDkevjDCIAAm-xj.jpg:large
————————————————————————
Is she for real WTF ?
DuMaurier
@rickhfx: WTF indeed. That’s actually kind of a separate issue, the way people (much younger than me) confuse posting online with having a private conversation between friends.
Paco
She may not serve any time, but her reputation is sure going to take a beating from all of this. Good luck with those future employment background checks, honey! Any dirt on the two Neanderthals yet?
Daniel-Reader
There is a U.S. federal hate crimes law that includes sexual orientation. Perpetrators are still subject to federal charges.
Daniel-Reader
If you aren’t getting satisfaction from locals regarding hate crime, contact the federal government for assistance.
Keebler ILF
She posted a pic on Twitter of the type of home she hopes to live in one day.
https://twitter.com/kathryn_knott/status/273902093826392065/photo/1
But her future home may look more like this:
http://media.pennlive.com/editorials/photo/pa-prison-camphilljpg-67366fb987f88404.jpg
omacdonald
Surprise surprise surprise. No wonder this took so long to investigate. In my opinion, that is so everyone can get their stories straight and for the chief, I believe, to get his investigating cops to corroborate. Absolutely sickening from what I can tell, she appears to be one of those daddy’s princesses who can do no wrong and spoiled absolutely rotten. In my opinion, daddy is using his position to cover for her. Absolutely outrageous.
As I posted before, our community needs to start carrying because I am so sick and tired of these mullet-headed bashers coming into the community to beat up one of our own. We need to have a means to defend ourselves from assault. These guys are lucky that they did not pick someone who was armed. Well wishes to those two fellows who were so severely beaten.
omacdonald
@rickhfx a picture of a patient’s body part if a violation of medical privacy laws. Not sure of Pennsylvania but other states frown on this kind of BS. Patient can sue the hospital and the medical professional can lose their license and run the risk of a civil lawsuit. I understand she also posted other people’s xrays too. I hope this gal gets what’s coming to her as her twitter feed gets more attention and some patient recognizes their picture.
Shannon1981
They should all go to jail for attempted murder and hate crimes charges but they won’t, especially not the pig’s daughter. She probably will get off with a “sensitivity class” or something. Chances are, she won’t even attend that. I wish there was a legal way to lean on them.
1EqualityUSA
Neutral Nurse is Santorum’s wife?
martinbakman
@Gothrykke: Neighbors have said so much and are surprised it took this long for her to get into this kind of trouble. Pure trash.
Maude
She ain’t got no mojo no mo
mcflyer54
This woman has been terminated from her job as an ER nurse. However, her termination had nothing to do with her “alleged” involvement in this gay bashing but because she posted confidential patient medical information and X-Rays on her social media. This is actually better (for termination purposes at least) because it will be easy to prove and very very difficult for even the slickest of lawyers to defend. Also, if the hospital is sued (highly likely) by the 5 or 6 individuals whose medical information she released they (the hospital or insurance company) will most likely sue her to recoup their losses. Then there is the issue of the assault which will simply add to her already massive problems. This little lady will be fortunate to find employment at Walmart by the time this situation is (or situations are) resolved – Daddy might be writing lots of checks for a long long time for his drunken little darling. Oh, and if the release of medical records charge sticks, Daddy will have wasted his money on her nursing degree too because it will be rescinded by the state.