Jury selection begins in Knott case

Jury selection got underway this week for the lone defendant who remains in last year’s gay-bashing case.

Kathryn Knott and her attorney, Louis Busico, were back in court Wednesday morning to begin the selection process. The trial is expected to open Thursday.

Assistant District Attorney Mike Barry is handling the case for the city.

Knott is charged with two counts each of aggravated and simple assault, as well as conspiracy and reckless endangerment in connection with the Sept. 11, 2014, attack on Zachary Hesse and Andrew Haught in Center City.

Knott’s co-defendants, Kevin Harrigan and Philip Williams, accepted plea deals offered by the District Attorney’s office that include probation, but no jail time. The prosecutor in the case said Knott was offered a similar deal, but she rejected it, opting instead to take her case to trial.

One charge of aggravated assault without serious bodily injury is a felony that is punishable by up to 10 years in prison and simple assault is a misdemeanor punishable by up to two years in prison. 

The night of the incident, Knott, Harrigan and Williams were walking with a large group of friends when they encountered Hesse and Haught. Harrigan said to Hesse, “Who is that? Your fucking boyfriend?” and went on to call him a “dirty faggot,” Barry told the court at this fall’s sentencing hearing. Barry said Harrigan then pushed Hesse, Hesse pushed back and Harrigan punched him in the face. Barry said Hesse’s arms were pinned to his side and he was struck multiple times. Williams physically assaulted Haught multiple times, and Knott allegedly attempted to swing at the men but missed, also using homophobic language, Barry said. Haught was left with facial fractures and had his jaw wired shut for two months. 

 

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