Jury to Decide Fate of Accused Philly Gay Basher Kathryn Knott

Did Kathryn Knott take part in the 2014 beating in Philadelphia that left a gay couple hospitalized or was she a bystander? Jury deliberations begin Wednesday.

Louis Busico, the attorney for accused Philadelphia gay basher Kathryn Knott, had strong words of criticism for his client's two co-defendants during closing arguments in Knott's assault trial Tuesday. He claims his client is innocent and offered an apology on behalf of Kevin Harrigan, who accepted a plea deal rather than stand trial, PhillyVoice.com reports.

The jury in Knott's trial begins deliberations Wednesday, following defense testimony by Knott and closing arguments Tuesday. Knott, who is accused of being part of the gang who beat up gay couple Andrew Haught and Zachary Hesse, maintains her innocence, claiming she didn't used any homophobic language or strike anyone on the night of September 11, 2014.

According to her testimony, Knott was out with friends and near the middle of the group of 15 people when a fight broke out. She said she saw a member of her group on the ground, but didn't see how he ended up there.

Knott claims she saw Haught push another member of the group's arm away before her co-defendant Phillip Williams rushed in to hit Haught.

"I saw Phil go to pull his arm up," Knott said. "That's when I ran toward him to try and stop him. I didn't want to see anyone get hurt. ... Once I saw Phil connect with Mr. Haught, I turned and ran the other way."

The beating left Haught with broken cheekbones and a fractured upper jaw that had to be wired shut for two months.

Both co-defendants Harrigan and Williams accepted plea deals rather than stand trial. They received fines, probation and are required to put in 200 hours of community service at an LGBT center.

In closing arguments, Knott's attorney distanced his client from Harrigan and Williams, who, according to PhilyVoice, he repeatedly criticized. He called Williams an aggressor who went "berserk" and labeled Harrigan a "moron" with a "big arrogant mouth." He offered an apology to Haught on their behalf.

Knott's testimony is in contrast to accounts given by Hesse, the other victim in the case. Philly Mag reports, according to Hesse, the group shouted "fucking faggot" and "dirty faggot" constantly during the beating; he said it was said "more than 10, more than 20 times." Hesse threw a punch but it didn't connect. About six people grabbed his arms, he said in court, and eventually Knott threw a punch or slap. He said he closed his eyes when he saw her open hand coming toward his face while shouting the slur. He identified Knott has his assailant in court.

Also accepted into evidence was Knott's Twitter history, which contained gay slurs. One tweet said "#gay #ew." Philly.com published the Assistant District Attorney Mike Barry's cross examination over the tweet.

Asked why she wrote "#gay #ew" in her tweet about the two men kissing, Knott testified: "I think it was taken out of context. It wasn't meant to be derogatory."

"Do you find gay people to be disgusting?" Barry asked.
"Absolutely not," Knott said.
She also said the other tweets have been taken out of context.
Barry asked Knott why she used the word "gay" in her tweet about the song. Did she mean "gay" as in happy? No, Knott said.
"Gay" as in homosexual? Barry asked.
"No," Knott replied.
Saying the word "gay" could also be used to mean "lame," Barry asked if she meant it that way.
"Absolutely," Knott said.
Knott agreed while "it could be taken as offensive," she didn't mean it that way.

Knott, of Southampton, Bucks County, lost her job at a hospital following her arrest. She remains free on bail. If convicted of all charges of aggravated assault, simple assault, conspiracy and reckless endangerment, she could face anywhere between 34 and 68 years in prison.