At least it's sort of a conviction, and it couldn't have happened to a more deserving woman. More and more, we are seeing less clemency towards individuals acting on hateful, homophobic impulses.
Today, 25 year old Kathryn Knott of Philadelphia was convicted of simple assault and reckless endangerment for her part in the beating that left one man with a broken jaw. A jury on Friday acquitted Kathryn Knott of 4 counts, including aggravated assault on each of the victims.
(Coincidentally) Knott is the daughter of Karl Knott, the police chief in Chalfont Borough, Bucks County.
From @JoeMyGod
BREAKING: Kathryn Knott Found GUILTY - https://t.co/znzXIszBOt pic.twitter.com/FDOIGZSOil
— JoeMyGod (@JoeMyGod) December 18, 2015
That assault was an especially ugly incident, clearly motivated by hatred towards homosexuals.
Knott was in a group of 15 people walking north on 16th Street at about 10:30 p.m. Sept. 11, 2014. At Chancellor Street, an alley just south of Walnut, her group encountered a gay couple, Zachary Hesse and his boyfriend Andrew Haught, walking on Chancellor.
After a man in Knott's group - Kevin Harrigan - began insulting the couple, Harrigan pushed and punched Hesse, according to testimony by Hesse, 29, and Haught, 28. Hesse was punched multiple times in an ensuing scuffle. Haught was seriously injured by another man in Knott's group - Philip Williams. He was punched multiple times, and was left bleeding on the ground and initially unconscious. He suffered fractures in his jawbone and around his eye.
No one in Knott's group called police. Her group then continued north on 16th Street and went to a bar.
From The New Civil Rights Movement:
Witnesses corroborate victims' stories that members of the gang of 12-15 asked one of the victims if the other was his "f*cking boyfriend." They were also reportedly called "dirty faggots." One of the victims was beaten so badly his jaw has been wired shut. The other received serious injuries as well.
During today's trial proceedings,
Knott, 25, bit her lips when the jury forewoman announced the guilty verdicts. The panel convicted her of simple assault against one victim and conspiracy.
The defense contended she did not hit anyone or yell anything derogatory.
Prosecutors said her earlier tweets show she hated gays. City leaders have since expanded their hate crime law to include sexual orientation.
It's only a matter of time until you'll find more incidents of this variety at a Trump Rally near you.
