PENNSYLVANIA: Philadelphia's Alleged Gay-Bashers Get First Hearing Today
UPDATE: There WILL Be A Trial
The case will be brought before a municipal court judge to determine if there was probable cause to arrest the suspects in September. Attorney for Kevin Harrigan, Josh Scarpello, tells me, “we won’t decide the truth of the matter in that first hearing. It is a probable-cause hearing to establish if the case should go to trial.” Scarpello confirms that all three defendants have pleaded not guilty. District Attorney's office spokesperson Tasha Jamerson tells me chief assistant district attorney of the central unit, Michael Barry, is prosecuting the case. During the preliminary hearing he will present all evidence, and the judge will hear testimony from witnesses, police, and the complainants and defendants. "The judge will listen to both sides and determine if there is enough to hold them to trial," Jamerson says.If the judge rules for a trial and if no plea bargain is reached, a jury trial would likely not take place for a couple of months at the earliest. I'll update this post after the hearing concludes. (Tipped by JMG reader Edward)
UPDATE: There WILL be a trial on all charges. BOOM.
A gay man is testifying about a late-night confrontation with young adults out on the town in Philadelphia that left his boyfriend in a pool of blood. The 28-year-old says the September attack began when 26-year-old Kevin Harrigan used slurs to ask if he and his partner were gay. The witness says he used the same language back to say they were, and the fight soon got physical. Harrigan, 24-year-old Philip Williams and 24-year-old Kathryn Knott are charged with aggravated assault, conspiracy and other counts. Defense lawyers hope to have the case dismissed at Tuesday's preliminary hearing, arguing that both parties were at fault. But witness Geoff Nagle questions whether the second gay man could have thrown a punch as he was beaten to the ground with a broken jaw.
Labels: gay bashing, hate crimes, Philadelphia
