The lawyer for accused Philadelphia gay-basher Kathryn Knott said today that Knott is a “wonderful human being” who was an innocent bystander in the September 11, 2014 attack on a gay couple in the city's City Center neighborhood.
Knott's trial officially got underway Thursday after she refused a plea deal offered to two others accused in the gay-bashing that left one gay man with a broken jaw.
Knott faces charges of aggravated assault, conspiracy and other related charges.
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In her opening statement to the jury of eight women and four men, Assistant District Attorney Allison Ruth said the evidence will show that Knott was an active participant in the attack.
Ruth said Knott was “screaming and throwing punches” while others in her group cheered because “a girl was hitting a guy.”
“Out there among 15 people in that crowd, she got involved,” Ruth told the jury.
Defense attorney Louis R. Busico, however, said there will be no evidence that Knott ever threw punches at Hesse or Haught. Busico told the jury the evidence will show that “all hell broke loose” after one of the gay men hit a woman during the escalating incident.
“Being present while some other people commit a crime is not a crime,” Busico said. “Don't hold her responsible for the acts of other grown men.”
