Crime
An initial police report described the incident as a suspected hate crime, but authorities said they are not pursuing civil rights charges at this time.
Five men are facing assault and battery charges in connection with an alleged violent attack on a gay couple in Mattapan last month, though Boston police said authorities aren’t seeking civil rights charges.
The same-sex couple told police they were walking down River Street shortly before 8 p.m. on Sept. 13 when a group of people allegedly “began making anti-homosexual remarks towards them,” per a police report obtained by Boston.com. A fight ensued, and one of the men in the couple was reportedly struck in the head with a baseball bat.
The incident sparked outrage among community members, as well as messages of condemnation from several local leaders. While the Boston Police Department’s Civil Rights Unit handled the investigation and an initial police report described the incident as a suspected hate crime, the department said in a statement that authorities are not pursuing civil rights charges at this time.
No further explanation was given for the lack of hate crime charges. All five suspects charged in the alleged attack have pleaded not guilty to various assault charges, court records show.
Woopenson Morisset, 30, of Boston; Maurice Payne, 37, of Brockton; and Patrick Fanfan, 53, of Hyde Park, are each charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon resulting in serious bodily injury.
Gardy Exantus, 33, of Mattapan, faces charges of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and assault and battery. Franklin Francois, 51, of Randolph, pleaded not guilty to a single count of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.
All but Payne were released on their own recognizance with orders to stay away from and have no contact with the alleged victims or witnesses. Payne was held without bail pending an Oct. 17 hearing.
Francois’s lawyer was not reachable for comment Thursday. Attorney information for the other defendants was not immediately available.
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