2 Male Suspects In Gay Beating Avoid Jail And Downtown; Female Suspect Going To Trial
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — Two Bucks County men charged in the beating of a gay couple in Center City last September have pleaded guilty in the case, in a plea arrangement with the District Attorney's office.
A woman who was with them that night turned down the plea deal and she is going to trial.
The two defendants will not do prison time, but they must stay out of Center City while on probation for 3-5 years. Twenty-five-year old Philip Williams and 26-year old Kevin Harrigan must serve 200-hours of community service at a LGBT-related organization.
Assistant DA Michael Barry says his office was following the wishes of the victims.
"And the victims in this case did not want a trial."
One of them suffered multiple injuries, including having his jaw wired shut for two months, while he was on a liquid diet.
Barry says the victims hope people, including the defendants, learn from what happened, because they always believed that "Center City was a refuge."
"I'm very aware of the need for people who are gay, lesbian, or different in any way to be able to come to our city and feel safe and that like they can be left alone. I understand what these people did shattered that feeling."
Defense attorney Louis Busico says his client, 25-year old Kathyrn Knott, is aware of the potential prison exposure.
"If she's willing to say 'I didn't do it,' in the face of a serious potential consequence, that tells you that she's an innocent person."
The two men each stood up and apologized for their actions that night, one of them said "it's not who we are or what we believe in."