US: Three charged over Philadelphia gay bashing get December hearing
Three people who were arrested over a homophobic attack in Philadelphia have had their court hearing scheduled for December.
The attack took place on 11 September, with police later releasing surveillence footage of the harrowing incident, in which the couple were held down, punched and beaten, and subjected to homophobic slurs.
One of the victims was left with a wired jaw following the attack, but defense lawyers claim that the attack was not motivated by sexuality.
The trio have been charged with aggravated assault, although the state does not have a hate crime law.
They will appear in court on December 16 for a preliminary hearing.
Fortunato Perri Jr. attorney for Williams, said: “Fortunately, my client will have a chance to present this case in a court of law instead of the court of public opinion.”
Harrigan’s attorney Joshua Scarpello claimed: “There certainly is another side to this case, there always is, and it’s going to come to light.
“This was less of a mob attack and more of a confrontation between two groups of people. Words were exchanged and those words led to fists.”
