Watch CBS News

Suspects Surrender To Face Charges In Alleged Beating Of Same-Sex Couple

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- All three suspects facing charges in connection with the alleged assault of a same-sex couple in Center City surrendered to police Wednesday morning.

Each one of the suspects faces two counts of aggravated assault, two counts of simple assault, two counts of recklessly endangering another person and one count of conspiracy.

Police alleged members of the group held down at least one of the victims while others punched him in the face.

But tonight defense attorneys argue this was more of a mutual fight that started with an argument.

This afternoon Philadelphia Police released the mug shots of all three of the suspects who are from Bucks County.

Twenty-four-year-old Philip Williams turned himself into Central Detectives this morning as did 24-year-old Kathryn Knott and 26-year-old Kevin Harrigan.

Police allege the three were the aggressors in the group seen on surveillance video minutes before the attack of a gay couple in Center City nearly two weeks ago.

Knott, a neighbor confirms is the daughter of Chalfont police Chief Karl Knott.

"We don't deny this gentleman was injured. We unequivocally deny my client did anything to hurt this man," Knott's attorney Louis Busico said.

Williams' attorney says the fight had nothing to do to with anyone's sexual orientation and that one of the victim's punched a woman in the face.

"This was a mutual confrontation between individuals out on the street," Williams' attorney Fortunato Perri Jr. said.

The victims do not want their identities revealed but today a close friend told CBS3 anti-gay slurs were clearly used during the attack.

She rejected claims the couple punched a woman or that this was a mutual fight.

"To fracture orbital bones, to fracture cheek bones to necessitate someone's jaw being wired shut for eight weeks, that is an extreme amount of force… Nobody stayed behind to say 'hey I'm sorry my friends are a jerk or hey are you ok,' " the victims' friend and spokesperson Caryn Kunkle said.

Attorney Josh Scarpello represents suspect Kevin Harrigan.

"My client's role in it is limited. I think it's going to come to light that he didn't deliver the blows that broke that man's jaw," he said.

The suspects remain in police custody awaiting their arraignment Wednesday night on charges including aggravated assault and simple assault.

Abington Health released the following statement on Wednesday:

"We can confirm that Kathryn Knott has been employed at Lansdale Hospital since May 2011. Because of the nature of the charges against her, she has been suspended from her job as an Emergency Room tech.

We are investigating an additional issue that was brought to our attention related to this employee's Twitter account for potential violations of patient privacy and our organization's social media policy. Abington Health takes patient privacy and confidentiality very seriously and is fully investigating this matter."

You may also be interested in these stories:

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.