Gay spy webcam
A former Rutgers University pupil openly apologized for the first time on Tuesday for using a webcam to spy on a romantic liaison between a man and a roommate who later killed himself, saying he regrets his "thoughtless, insensitive, immature, foolish and childish choices." Dharun Ravi, who had been criticized by a assess for not showing remorse and for refusing to say he was sorry, also said he will begin serving a 30-day jail term on Thursday even though he doesn't have to.
View full sizeMel Evans, The Associated Squeeze archiveFormer Rutgers University pupil Dharun Ravi was photographed Feb. 24 arriving at his trial in Modern Brunswick, N.J.
Through a lawyer, Ravi issued his most contrite public statement yet in a case that made him a symbol of what his family called an overzealous prosecution and that made his roommate, Tyler Clementi, a prime example of what gay rights advocates said were the consequences of bullying.
"I accept responsibility for and regret my unintentional, insensitive, immature, stupid and childish choices that I made on Sept. 19, 2010, and Sept. 21, 2010," Ravi said in his statement. "My habit and actions, which at no time were motivated by hate, b
NEW BRUNSWICK, n.j. — The trial of a former Rutgers University student accused of using a webcam to spy on his roommate’s intimate liaison with another man opened Friday with questions about whether the defendant had a issue with gay people.
A prosecutor told jurors that Dharun Ravi, now 19, spied on roommate Tyler Clementi and acted maliciously “to deprive him of his dignity.” Clementi, in an act that sparked a national conversation about bullying of young gays, committed suicide days after the alleged spying in September 2010.
Ravi’s attorney insisted his client isn’t bigoted. “He may be stupid at times,” defense attorney Steven Altman said in his opening statement. “He’s an 18-year-old boy, but he’s certainly not a criminal.”
Early witnesses testified that Ravi expressed discomfort about having a homosexual roommate, but they didn’t know him to have a problem with homosexual people.
His attitude matters in the trial because the 15 charges Ravi faces include bias intimidation, which can bring a 10-year prison sentence. To obtain a conviction on that charge, prosecutors must persuade jurors that Ravi acted
Rutgers webcam trial told Dharun Ravi 'is no gay-hater'
Fighting a cold that forced him to procrastinate his arguments, Mr Altman asked the jury if there was information and evidence of "hate" or "ugliness" in Mr Ravi's heart.
"Why we're here is because, on September 19 and September 21 of 2010, an 18-year-old young man, a kid, a college freshman, had an experience, had an encounter and he wasn't ready for, that he didn't expect, that he was surprised by, that he hadn't anticipated," Mr Altman said.
He also replayed a utterance Mr Ravi made to police one day after Clementi's death, emphasising that he felt terrible about seeing the encounter on the videostream.
Mr Ravi was not one of the 30 witnesses called during the trial.
The case centres on the days of 19 and 21 September 2010, when Mr Clementi asked Mr Ravi if he could have the room to himself.
Mr Ravi, who was in a friend's room, activated their webcam and saw the two men together, allegedly kissing.
He then tweeted about what he saw and also posted a message on Twitter when Mr Clementi asked to possess the room again, two days later.
Mr Altman characterised the
Ex-Rutgers student Dharun Ravi in webcam spy case released from NJ jail
NORTH BRUNSWICK, N.J. -- Former Rutgers University student Dharun Ravi, convicted of bias crimes for using a webcam to spy on his gay roommate's sexual encounter, was released from a New Jersey jail on Tuesday after serving 20 days of his 30-day sentence.
Ravi, 20, clean-shaven when he entered prison, left looking unshaven when his lawyer, Steven Altman, picked him up from the Middlesex County jail shortly after 8:30 a.m. ET. They left from a side retreat and avoided a throng of media awaiting his release. Ravi did not comment as he left.
Ravi began his jail term on May 31 after being convicted March 15 of bias crimes for using a computer-mounted dorm room webcam to spy on his roommate, Tyler Clementi, 18, and an older man Clementi met online. Days after learning that Ravi had snooped on him and used social media to urge others to watch as well, Clementi jumped to his death from the George Washington Bridge in September 2010.
Ravi automatically was given five days off for good behavior and five for working, allowing him to leave after serving 20 days of his 30-day sentence imposed by Judge Glenn Berman, wh