Philadelphia (AP) – Three young adults charged with beating a gay couple in Philadelphia are due in court Dec. 16 for a preliminary hearing.
Police accuse the two men and a suburban police chief’s daughter with taking part in an assault that left one man with a wired jaw.
Defense lawyers insist that both parties played a role in the Sept. 11 encounter, and say gay bashing was not the motive.
The arrests came after the public used social media sites to help police identify the large group that crossed paths with the victims that night.
Police then charged 24-year-old Philip Williams of Warminster, 24-year-old Kathryn Knott of Southampton and 26-year-old Kevin Harrigan of Warrington with aggravated assault, conspiracy and other charges.
Pennsylvania’s hate crimes law does not include protections for sexual orientation.
