General Discussion

LynneSin

(95,337 posts) Thu Apr 16, 2015, 06:14 PM Apr 2015

Judge upholds charges in beating of gay couple in Philadelphia

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/Judge_upholds_charges_in_beating_of_gay_couple.html

Judge upholds charges in beating of gay couple in Philadelphia

Common Pleas Court judge on Thursday upheld charges against three people accused of beating a gay couple in Center City last year.

Judge Frank Palumbo denied defense motions to quash aggravated assault and conspiracy charges against Philip Williams, 24, of Warminster; Kevin Harrigan, 26, of Warrington; and Kathryn Knott, 24, of Southampton.

A trial date has not yet been set for the trio, who remain free on bail. They are next due in court May 21.

Williams, Harrigan, and Knott were walking in a group of about a dozen people the night of Sept. 11, 2014, when they encountered the two victims near 16th and Chancellor streets, police said.

<<<snip>>>

The case drew national attention and prompted Philadelphia City Council to pass an LGBT-inclusive municipal hate crime ordinance.

Thank goodness!!!

10 replies

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Highlight:

Judge upholds charges in beating of gay couple in Philadelphia (Original Post) LynneSin Apr 2015 OP

Defense attorney did their job, judge did his. NoJusticeNoPeace Apr 2015 #1

Well, there was speculation that they'd get off easy because the woman's father justiceischeap Apr 2015 #2

Great to hear...so much corruption in our system already. NoJusticeNoPeace Apr 2015 #5

I think folks were worried because the attackers were rich white suburb kids LynneSin Apr 2015 #4

All the more reason to celebrate, at least so far. NoJusticeNoPeace Apr 2015 #8

But NOT being charged as a Hate Crime~ blkmusclmachine Apr 2015 #3

Unfortunately that happened before they passed the Hate Crime bill in Philly LynneSin Apr 2015 #6

Should be probably, wonder why it isnt , what the legal excuse is NoJusticeNoPeace Apr 2015 #7

Ex post facto ohnoyoudidnt Apr 2015 #9

Anemic charges when it almost certainly is a hate crime. AtomicKitten Apr 2015 #10

NoJusticeNoPeace

(5,018 posts)

1. Defense attorney did their job, judge did his.

Reply to LynneSin (Original post)

Thu Apr 16, 2015, 06:17 PM

Apr 2015

The way the system is supposed to work.

Your attorney should believe that you are innocent and be willing to go to any length to prove it.

Otherwise our already broken justice system would be WAY worse.

Now if these alleged assailants are found guilty, throw the fucking book at them.

justiceischeap

(14,040 posts)

2. Well, there was speculation that they'd get off easy because the woman's father

Reply to NoJusticeNoPeace (Reply #1)

Thu Apr 16, 2015, 06:19 PM

Apr 2015

is a police officer. So that this was upheld is actually really big (and great) news.

NoJusticeNoPeace

(5,018 posts)

5. Great to hear...so much corruption in our system already.

Reply to justiceischeap (Reply #2)

Thu Apr 16, 2015, 06:20 PM

Apr 2015

In a perfect world a judge wouldnt be a lying asshole with allegiances to the police...

But we know that is often the case that they are

LynneSin

(95,337 posts)

4. I think folks were worried because the attackers were rich white suburb kids

Reply to NoJusticeNoPeace (Reply #1)

Thu Apr 16, 2015, 06:20 PM

Apr 2015

and somehow they would be let off easy.

But I'm glad they will be at least given a trial. I hope they will be held accountable. That girl is a piece of work. They found her twitter feed - nothing like being a drunk idiot at age 24. Sure she's 'cute' but from reading her twitter that's about all she has going for her because she was a hateful drunk.

NoJusticeNoPeace

(5,018 posts)

8. All the more reason to celebrate, at least so far.

Reply to LynneSin (Reply #4)

Thu Apr 16, 2015, 06:23 PM

Apr 2015

Teaparty person reading this would be furious that two white str8t people would have to be bothered beyond paying a ticket for beating up gay folks.

Every day I see reminders why having a con in the WH would be a nightmare

blkmusclmachine

(16,149 posts)

3. But NOT being charged as a Hate Crime~

Reply to LynneSin (Original post)

Thu Apr 16, 2015, 06:19 PM

Apr 2015

LynneSin

(95,337 posts)

6. Unfortunately that happened before they passed the Hate Crime bill in Philly

Reply to blkmusclmachine (Reply #3)

Thu Apr 16, 2015, 06:20 PM

Apr 2015

but at least it is passed now.

NoJusticeNoPeace

(5,018 posts)

7. Should be probably, wonder why it isnt , what the legal excuse is

Reply to blkmusclmachine (Reply #3)

Thu Apr 16, 2015, 06:21 PM

Apr 2015

ohnoyoudidnt

(1,858 posts)

9. Ex post facto

Reply to NoJusticeNoPeace (Reply #7)

Thu Apr 16, 2015, 06:34 PM

Apr 2015

https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/ex_post_facto

Ex Post Facto

Latin for "from a thing done afterward." Ex post facto is most typically used to refer to a criminal law that applies retroactively, thereby criminalizing conduct that was legal when originally performed. Two clauses in the US Constitution prohibit ex post facto laws: Art 1, § 9 and Art. 1 § 10. see, e.g. Collins v. Youngblood, 497 US 37 (1990) and California Dep't of Corrections v. Morales, 514 US 499 (1995).

AtomicKitten

(46,585 posts)

10. Anemic charges when it almost certainly is a hate crime.

Reply to LynneSin (Original post)

Thu Apr 16, 2015, 06:41 PM

Apr 2015

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