2 men who beat gay couple banned from downtown Philadelphia

There will be an invisible fence around Center City, from river to river, Washington Avenue to Girard, for two Bucks County men accused of attacking a gay couple a year ago. One of the suspects rejected the bargain and will head back into court on October 30.

Philip Williams and Kevin Harrigan apologized as they pleaded guilty Thursday to aggravated assault and conspiracy charges.

Arrested on September 24, 2014, the accused were charged with aggravated assault, simple assault and recklessly endangering another person.

Knott, middle and Kevin J. Harrigan. Philly Gay News reports the sentence for the two men includes community service and probation but no jail time.

A third defendant, Kathryn Knott, 25, of Southampton will go to trial, her attorney, Louis Busico said.

Williams and Harrigan both addressed the court briefly, turning briefly to victims Zachary Hesse and Andrew Haught in the front row, and both of them denied the attack was about sexual orientation.

They were approached by a gang of young men and women who asked if they were a couple.

“Center City is supposed to be a place of refuge, ‘ Barry said”.

One of the victims, 28-year-old Hesse recalls that as he was being beaten by at least four people he could see his partner being forced onto the pavement.

“Williams hit him in the face when Haught was on the ground”, Barry said. “I was horrified. I thought he was dead”.

As a part of the sentence both Williams and Harrigan must complete 200 hours of community service at a LGBT facility and are forbidden by law from entering Center City until the expiration of their respective probation periods.

No word yet on if the victims will file a civil suit against the assailants for damages. The 25-year-old Williams and 27-year-old Harrigan say the attack wasn’t motivated by the couple’s sexual orientation.

“Today’s agreement is certainly about justice, but it is also about honoring the wishes of the victims to make sure they can continue to heal and gain closure”, Philadelphia District Attorney Seth Williams said in a statement.