Tyler Clementi~driven to suicide

[Lady Cop]

trial is on now. March 2012

A former Rutgers University student accused of using a webcam to spy on his roommate's intimate encounter with another man told his friends he was hosting a 'viewing party' with beer and rum to watch the dorm room liaison.

The revelation came in testimony from Michelle Huang, a Cornell University student who says Dharun Ravi told her about it in a text message on September 21, 2010.

Ravi, 20, is on trial for 15 criminal counts, including invasion of privacy, bias intimidation and several charges accusing him of trying to cover his tracks.

Bias intimidation is a hate crime punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

The roommate, Tyler Clementi, jumped to his death from the George Washington Bridge between New York and the state of New Jersey on September 22, 2010- the day after Ravi supposedly sent the explosive text.

Prosecutors are trying to prove that Ravi intentionally tried to humiliate Mr Clementi.

Ms Huang testified that Ravi urged her to video chat him so she could see the webcam footage.

'Do it for real,' Ravi wrote in a text that was shown to jurors. 'I have it pointed at his bed.

''Keep the gays away,' he continued.

ravi. cruel little prick




Tyler. a good talented sensitive kid. :(

[Lady Cop]

just coming in, jury still reading verdicts. looks like guilty on a number of counts. he's looking at real state prison time.




(CNN) -- A verdict has been reached in the trial of a former Rutgers University student accused of spying on and intimidating his gay roommate by use of a hidden webcam.

If convicted, Dharun Ravi could face up to 10 years in prison and deportation back to his native India.

Ravi, 20, has been on trial on a 15-count indictment that includes charges of bias intimidation, invasion of privacy, tampering with physical evidence, witness tampering and hindering apprehension.

charges carry jail time of up to 10 years and possible deportation back to his native India. sentencing May 21.
he walked out of courtroom, still on bond, i hope they have his passport.

[Lady Cop]

he should have taken the plea deal.

5/21/12

(CNN) -- Dharun Ravi could face 10 years in prison and be deported to his native India when he is sentenced Monday for spying on and intimidating his gay Rutgers University roommate, who then killed himself by jumping off New York's George Washington Bridge.

[shitstorm]

When I heard about this and saw Tyler, I thought he was the kind of kid that anyone would be proud to have for a son. So, so tragic.

I do not approve of hate crime and hate speech laws. If Ravi had put a secret webcam in the room of a female acquaintance and streamed her having sex with a guy, to humiliate and ridicule her, it could have ended just as terribly. Hate crimes elevate some victims over others. These laws need to be challenged and overturned because they violate equal protection under the law.

There have been some other cases where perverts have spied on/video taped people and there were no laws preventing it. I remember being shocked about that.

I'm thrilled this asshole will do time for his despicable stunt, though. I wonder about the girl.

[Lady Cop]

Molly Wei, who was watching the encounter with Ravi, took a plea deal and avoided jail time by testifying against Ravi.

[Lady Cop]

Today’s court proceedings are expected to be dramatic. Ravi, who did not testify during the trial, will have the option of speaking before his sentencing. His victims, including the Clementi family, are also expected to address the court.

Today’s court proceedings are expected to begin with a hearing on a defense motion requesting a new trial. If that is not granted, Ravi’s sentencing will follow.

Superior Court Judge Glenn Berman has discretion in how much prison time, if any, to give Ravi. Legal experts say, whatever Berman’s sentence, Ravi’s case is likely to be appealed. That could delay any prison term for years.

Ravi, a citizen of India who grew up in New Jersey, could also face deportation.

The judge’s sentencing decision will be closely watched in the legal community, said Marc Poirier, a Seton Hall School of Law professor who has studied hate crime law.

"It’s a very novel application of hate crimes," said Poirier, who recently spoke at a rally in support of Ravi. "We typically don’t send people to jail for bullying."
NJStar




Jane and Joseph Clementi




Dharun Ravi's parents Ravi Pazhani and Sabitha Ravi






0900 court TV/Tru TV is carrying hearing live.

[Adub]

I've been listening to the hearing. Ravi did not speak. And the Judge is up!

http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/0...-case?lite

[Lady Cop]

it's been a lengthy hearing, and it continues as the judge is speaking.

the two statements that were most emotional were from the mothers...of Tyler and of Ravi. very compelling, touching and heartbreaking.

i expect we'll know sentence within a few minutes. judge did say he does not recommend deportation. that is not his decision however.

[Lady Cop]

Ravi will report May 31 to serve 30 day jail sentence. wow. i guess judge thinks this kid is salvageable.
he is excoriating him, but what a merciful sentence!


STUNNING!

[Jimbone]

Only 30 days? He must feel like the luckiest guy in world right now.

Wow.

[Lady Cop]

Ravi was not charged with anything related to Tyler's actual death.
but this seems beyond lenient. i am interested in hearing what Tyler's parents say after this hearing.
Ravi has never shown remorse is what chokes me.



also 3 years probation, 300 hours community service, $10,000. fine, bullying counseling.

[Jimbone]

From http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2012/05..._bias.html

"He stared wide-eyed at the judge while Berman sentenced him. He had no reaction, he turned to his attorney and nodded."

I'm surprised they didn't high-five.

[Kip]

Ravi has never shown remorse is what chokes me.

Me too.

If I had been on the jury, I'd be ticked at the sentence. I'd be thinking, "12 of us gave up days of our time to serve on this jury, and we gave a lot of thought into reaching our verdict. And it results in a 30-day sentence! What was the point?"

[Duchess]

Soooo, one can invade someone's privacy & use what they discover to publicly humiliate that person to the point the invaded person commits suicide and it's basically legal to do so. That's what I'm getting from this story.

[shitstorm]

Damn. Shocking.

Are there any laws in NJ against filming/video taping/streaming/ SPYING on someone? Doesn't sound like it.

[HairOfTheDog]

Pissed.

Add: It took a long time and a lot of reported cases of stalking before the laws got serious enough, imo. Maybe it will take a few more suicides, criminal cases and loud public outcry for this type of bullying and invasion of privacy to be taken seriously enough too.

[Lady Cop]

he was convicted of 15 crimes and received a jaywalking sentence. he did not kill Tyler. but each of those 15 counts warranted prison time even if the degrees were reduced. i am speculating the judge did not send him to prison because that would have likely meant deportation and Ravi has been here all his life. since age 5.

--------------------------------------------


(CNN) -- Prosecutors will appeal a 30-day jail sentence handed down Monday against Dharun Ravi, the former Rutgers student convicted of spying on and intimidating his gay roommate, who then killed himself by jumping off New York's George Washington Bridge.

Middlesex County Prosecutor Bruce J. Kaplan said Ravi's crimes warranted "more than a 30-day jail term" and called Superior Judge Glenn Berman's sentence "insufficient under the sentencing laws of this state, the facts that were determined by a jury, and long-standing appellate precedent."

[shitstorm]

LC, what were the 15 felonies?

[Sterling]

It took a long time and a lot of reported cases of stalking before the laws got serious enough, imo.

He was stalked and ended up dead. Oops! I thought this was the Martin/Zimmerman thread. Sorry.

[Lady Cop]

LC, what were the 15 felonies?

some may have been misdemeanors in NJ, i am not sure.

15 criminal counts, including invasion of privacy, "bias intimidation," and obstructing justice after police began investigating.The jury found Ravi guilty of witness tampering, tampering of evidence, lying to police, and deleting text messages and Twitter posts.

i changed felonies to crimes in my post. ^