Back on September 15, 2014,
I reported on a gay-bashing incident that occurred in Philadelphia. And, today there was a hearing in which the judge heard arguments in the case and decided that the three suspects would stand trial. There was enough evidence presented that the suspects will face charges of aggravated assault, reckless endangerment, and criminal conspiracy at trial. The defendants are 26-year-old Kevin Harrigan, 24-year-old Kathryn Knott, and 24-year-old Philip Williams.
From bilerico.com:
Prosecutors called two witnesses to the stand: Geoff Nagle, whom we interviewed in the week following the attack, and Zachary Hesse, one of two victims in the case.
Lawyers for the alleged gay-bashers reportedly asked Judge Charles Hayden to dismiss the most serious charges and send the case back to municipal court, but the judge refused, saying the prosecution had presented a compelling enough case to take the matter to trial.
The judge scheduled the next step -- a formal arraignment hearing -- for January 6th, 2015 in room 1104 of the Criminal Justice Center in downtown Philadelphia.
The maximum sentence for aggravated assault is 20 years in prison.
You can read the details of the testimony at bilerico. It was quite an attack.
From towleroad:
The defendants, who previously pleaded not guilty and remain out on bail, appeared in the courtroom with their families, with Knott’s mother crying throughout many points of the proceeding. State Representative Brian Sims was also in attendance in the courtroom, which was crowded but not full.