Man could face 80 years in boiling water attack on gay couple

ATLANTA — The Fulton County District Attorney has indicted the man accused of pouring scalding water on two gay men.

Martin Blackwell is accused of pouring the hot water on Anthony Gooden and his boyfriend, Marquez Tolbert, as they slept in his mother’s College Park apartment after a 12-hour work shift. Blackwell allegedly told police he was disgusted by the men’s relationship.

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Tolbert suffered second and third-degree burns on his neck, back and arms. Gooden was severely burned on his face and the front of his body.

Tolbert spent 10 days at Grady Memorial Hospital undergoing surgery that took skin from his thigh to replace skin on his back.

Police charged Blackwell with two counts of aggravated battery. The new charges more counts of aggravated battery and aggravated assault.

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If convicted, Blackwell could possibly serve 80 years in prison.

Georgia does not have a sentence enhancement for hate crimes.

Cox Media Group