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Five Men Charged and Arraigned in Mattapan Assault on Same-Sex Couple

Police say no civil rights counts are being pursued in the Sept. 13 River Street attack.

Overview

  • Boston police identified the defendants as Franklin Francois, 51; Woopenson Morisset, 30; Gardy Exantus, 33; Maurice Payne, 37; and Patrick Fanfan, 53.
  • Morisset, Payne, and Fanfan face assault and battery with a dangerous weapon causing serious bodily injury, while Francois and Exantus face assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, with Exantus also charged with assault and battery.
  • All five pleaded not guilty during Dorchester District Court arraignments held between Oct. 3 and Oct. 10.
  • Court records show four defendants were released on personal recognizance with no-contact orders, and Payne remains held without bail with a status review set for Oct. 17.
  • Police reports say the couple was targeted with anti-gay slurs before the attack, and one victim was struck in the head with a baseball bat and hospitalized, with no condition update released.