student kills self after webcam spying UPDATE: Conviction Overturned

[ynotdivein]

While we wait, re-posting this article from The New Yorker, 2/6/12 issue:


The Story of a Suicide: Two college roommates, a webcam, and a tragedy

<snip> "That September, Tyler Clementi and Ravi were freshman roommates at Rutgers University, in a dormitory three miles from the courtroom. A few weeks into the semester, Ravi and another new student, Molly Wei, used a webcam to secretly watch Clementi in an embrace with a young man. Ravi gossiped about him on Twitter: &#8220;I saw him making out with a dude. Yay.&#8221; Two days later, Ravi tried to set up another viewing. The day after that, Clementi committed suicide by jumping from the George Washington Bridge."

Much more at link above or here:

Read more http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2012/02/06/120206fa_fact_parker#ixzz1p35PhNDm

 

[KaraKitty]

Just curious, with Molly and Ravi being expelled from Rutgers &#8230; does anyone know if Molly is in school now and where and what will become of Ravi if he does not service any jail time. With this making headlines from the moment we all found out about Tyler to this trial, I imagine it will be difficult for Ravi to have a normal life for sometime.

 

[~n/t~]

Just curious, with Molly and Ravi being expelled from Rutgers … does anyone know if Molly is in school now and where and what will become of Ravi if he does not service any jail time. With this making headlines from the moment we all found out about Tyler to this trial, I imagine it will be difficult for Ravi to have a normal life for sometime.

It is my understanding if he's not convicted, he will be deported back to India. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[zippitydoda]

I think it's if he is convicted, or if he had taken the plea deal, that he could, not would, have been deported. The PT noted in their plea deal that they would assist in any way they could with NOT deporting him.

 

[jjenny]

It is my understanding if he's not convicted, he will be deported back to India. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

No, why would they deport him back to India if he is not convicted? If he is convicted, now, that's another story alltogether. There are rules about deporting those non-citizens convicted of crimes.

 

[jjenny]

I think it's if he is convicted, or if he had taken the plea deal, that he could, not would, have been deported. The PT noted in their plea deal that they would assist in any way they could with NOT deporting him.

I guess we will see soon enough if he should have taken that plea deal.

 

[Shelby1]

I'm listening to the judge give the jury their instructions. Ravi was sitting with his head propped up by his hand and his eyes were closed. Almost looked like he was nodding off.

 

[Velouria]

I'm listening to the judge give the jury their instructions. Ravi was sitting with his head propped up by his hand and his eyes were closed. Almost looked like he was nodding off.

Geez, I know we're all still adjusting to Daylight Savings Time, but you'd think he'd be a bit more alert, considering what's at stake here. He could be facing some serious jail time if convicted.

 

[CarolinaMoon]

As I listen to the judge explain the charges, I keep checking mental boxes, "He did that." and "He did that." Ravi could be total toast considering the explanation of bias. He may go down 100%.

As for the defendant, someone needs to goose him from time to time to keep him awake. Hey, guy, this is your life!

 

[zippitydoda]

Jury to take break at 11.

The PT & DT are reviewing the evidence. After the break, the jury will be brought to the deliberation room, and then the evidence will be brought to the jury.

 

[Shelby1]

Each time I watch a trial, the rules are so different!

The judge always picks the juror in seat #1 to be the foreperson --unless they have a violent objection.

I never knew that the judge ever picked the foreperson.

 

[daisy7]

Jury to take break at 11.

The PT & DT are reviewing the evidence. After the break, the jury will be brought to the deliberation room, and then the evidence will be brought to the jury.

They're bringing all the evidence in? Usually, they don't bring it unless the jury requests something specific.

 

[CarolinaMoon]

Each time I watch a trial, the rules are so different!

The judge always picks the juror in seat #1 to be the foreperson --unless they have a violent objection.

I never knew that the judge ever picked the foreperson.

When DH was serving jury duty, he was juror #1 twice and appointed as foreman in NYC.

 

[zippitydoda]

Tyler.... I don't know what you were thinking in those days and the night you went away forever. I'm sorry that you could not see past whatever was bothering you so badly that you thought this was the only way out of it.

I'm sorry that you were were not respected, held up for ridicule just for being gay, and treated so horribly by these people. But right now, I'm mostly sorry that there are some people who don't have a problem with what was done to you, and they think it is somehow your fault. Its clear to me, that whatever the verdict is, we still have work to do here.

 

[zippitydoda]

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2012/03/jury_in_ravi_trial_requests_cl.html

After less than two hours of deliberating, jurors asked Superior Court Judge Glenn Berman to repeat a bias intimidation statute that he had instructed them on this morning.

Ravi faces 15 counts of bias intimidation, invasion of privacy and tampering with evidence and a witness. The bias counts &#8212; counts 2, 4, 6 and 8 &#8212; are coupled with the invasion of privacy counts &#8212; counts 1, 3, 5 and 7 &#8212; meaning Ravi can only be found guilty of bias intimidation if he is found guilty of the accompanying invasion of privacy charge.

 

[Luna24]

As I listen to the judge explain the charges, I keep checking mental boxes, "He did that." and "He did that." Ravi could be total toast considering the explanation of bias. He may go down 100%.

As for the defendant, someone needs to goose him from time to time to keep him awake. Hey, guy, this is your life!

I agree CM - to me, I see him guilty of all counts and it seems pretty obvious to me.

I saw all the posts about him looking sleepy before I saw it and I'm still shocked at how he looked as I'm watching it back on DVR..it comes across as completely disrespectful. He expects the jury to be awake and present to decide on his fate, yet he can't even pretend to look awake? yikes.

 

[zippitydoda]

NJ Burkett&#8207; @njburkett7

No verdict in trial after just four hours of deliberations. (But did you really expect one so soon?) Jury resumes at 9AM.

 

[Luna24]

I saw a couple of the talking heads on InSession talking about Ravi's non-verbal communication through the entire trial and especially during the judge's instructions. One guy said at one point that it was terrible and the DT should have given him coffee or something but then also wondered later if it wasn't more calculated, that it shows his immaturity.

Beth K said she couldn't see him during the instructions and said it seemed the jurors were focused on the judge because the instructions were complex and they were not allowed to take notes during it..she did say during one of the breaks in the judge speaking, one of the male jurors were looking over at the Clementi family a lot. I'm sure it is tough to see them especially with him mom and two brothers looking so much like Tyler.

 

[Luna24]

NJ Burkett&#8207; @njburkett7

No verdict in trial after just four hours of deliberations. (But did you really expect one so soon?) Jury resumes at 9AM.

I think it's either going to be tomorrow afternoon or Friday morning (maybe that's wishful thinking though).

 

[Luna24]

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2012/03/jury_in_ravi_trial_requests_cl.html

After less than two hours of deliberating, jurors asked Superior Court Judge Glenn Berman to repeat a bias intimidation statute that he had instructed them on this morning.

Ravi faces 15 counts of bias intimidation, invasion of privacy and tampering with evidence and a witness. The bias counts &#8212; counts 2, 4, 6 and 8 &#8212; are coupled with the invasion of privacy counts &#8212; counts 1, 3, 5 and 7 &#8212; meaning Ravi can only be found guilty of bias intimidation if he is found guilty of the accompanying invasion of privacy charge.

BBM

Sorry for all the posts but wanted to add one more thing..the fact that they came back and asked for more info on the bias intimidation, I'm wondering if they have already decided guilty on the invasion of privacy...because they can't convict on the the bias intimidation charges if they don't convict on the invasion of privacy charges...am I making sense?