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Philly hate crime: Kathryn Knott sentenced to 5-10 months in prison

Philly hate crime: Kathryn Knott sentenced to 5-10 months in prison

A Philadelphia Common Pleas judge has sentenced Kathryn Knott, 25, to 5-10 months in jail for her involvement in an attack on a gay couple in September, 2014.

In December of last year, Knott was found guilty of simple assault, conspiracy and reckless endangerment.

She was found not guilty of more serious aggravated assault charges and not guilty of charges against the other victim, explaining her seemingly light sentence.

Kathryn was one of about 15 people who engaged a same-sex couple in downtown Philly in a verbal argument that quickly turned violent.

She claimed in court that she turned away when things got physical. “I didn’t want anyone getting hurt,” she said during her trial. “I was trying to calm the situation.”

Knott was charged along with Philip Williams and Kevin Harrigan, who both took plea deals which included community service and probation to avoid jail time.

Knott rejected the deal, leading to her high-profile trial.

Knott’s father, Karl Knott, is the police chief in Chalfont Borough, Bucks County.

Juror Aristeo Duenas, 33, said he and other jurors wanted to convict her on all counts, but two other jurors felt bad for Knott. Ultimately they compromised on the aggravated assault charges.

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Philly hate attack: Kathryn Knott will learn her fate today

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