Dharun Ravi Found Guilty of Major Counts in Tyler Clementi Case: VIDEO
After 12 hours of deliberation, the jury in the Dharun Ravi case today returned a verdict, and Ravi has been found guilty on a number of major counts including bias intimidation and invasion of privacy that could land him in prison for 10 years.
Watch a video of the verdict, AFTER THE JUMP...
The jury found that Ravi was motivated by anti-gay bias when he used a webcam to spy on his Rutgers roommate Tyler Clementi's intimate encounter with another man in their dorm room, and broadcast it to other students. Clementi committed suicide by jumping off the George Washington bridge a short time thereafter.
The Star-Ledger has a DETAILED LIST of all the counts and the verdicts on each.
Ravi, 20, of Plainsboro, was convicted of the most serious counts of bias intimidation, which means he faces certain jail time – between five and 10 years - when sentenced by Superior Court Glenn Berman. As a native of India, he also could be deported...Of the 35 separate charges on 15 counts, 24 came in guilty, with 11 not guilty. Most of the not guilty verdicts applied to Clementi’s companion, identified only as M.B.
It was the first time in the state that bias intimidation charges linked to invasion of privacy were brought against a defendant and could have a future impact on the way young adults interact online and how schools police internet use, legal experts have said.
They add:
The panel of seven women and five men were convinced by First Assistant Middlesex County Prosecutor Julia McClure’s assertion that Ravi invaded the privacy of Clementi and his male companion, identified only as M.B., with the intent to intimidate Clementi because he was gay.
In doing so, they rejected Attorney Steven Altman’s defense that Ravi was acting like a typical 18-year-old “kid” and didn’t know how to deal with seeing two men kissing. Ravi had also told investigators that he used the webcam because he was worried that an older, shabby looking M.B. would steal his iPad.
Ravi's sentencing is May 21.
Watch a video of the verdict, AFTER THE JUMP...
David, I must have misunderstood what I read in the New Yorker piece - thanks for clarifying.
As for cheering the verdict, that's unlikely. It's not a football game, or a victory on same sex marriage - the good guy is dead.
Posted by: MammaBear | Mar 16, 2012 2:42:08 PM
Justice. Go read and the New Yorker article about this case that came out in February. Dharun Ravi's youth is no excuse for his callous, condescending, dismissive and intrusive behavior. On learning that his roommate was not wealthy, he texted a friend, "Dude I hate poor people."
Here's hoping that he is deported back to India and there he learns the art of empathy.
Posted by: Charles Lemos | Mar 16, 2012 2:43:35 PM
Creepy Ravi secretly tapes his roommates intimate moments. Glad this jury decided correctly to convict. Karma's gonna getcha Ravi.
Posted by: Chicklets | Mar 16, 2012 2:46:26 PM
He was overcharged and it's not yet clear if the jury responded with some under convicting. People who accuse this guy and make him out to be a monster just read headlines.
All sad. And suicide was at no point even a likely outcome.
The publicity around this us probably a good thing. But nothing to be anything but sad about.
Posted by: Bingo | Mar 16, 2012 2:49:39 PM
Good and good riddance. Homophobic jerk-off.
Posted by: Molc | Mar 16, 2012 2:54:28 PM
I have to agree that the crime was over-charged. The invasion of privacy charges that dealt with the filming and the charges dealing with tampering seem appropriate.
The bias intimidation charges? Its way too shaky for me to take serious. He could have very well filmed his male roomate sleeping with a girl. If she had been embarassed and downed a bottle of pills the charges would be different. I don't agree with that. Why should the punishment be greater for one than the other?
The kid is an ABSOLUTE punk and should be thrown out of school and punished. But what exactly made this crime homophobic? I've seen no evidence of that yet.
Posted by: BEAHBEAH | Mar 16, 2012 3:18:58 PM
@Justin
Thank you . One of the few sane comments I've read so far
Posted by: aki | Mar 16, 2012 3:20:40 PM
ABC news seems to have a more professional report:
It should clear up some of the confusion here.
"Ravi was found not guilty of some subparts of the 15 counts of bias intimidation, attempted invasion of privacy, and attempted bias intimidation, but needed only to be found guilty of one part of each count to be convicted.
The convictions carry a possible sentence of five to 10 years in prison. Because Ravi is a citizen of India, and is in the US on a green card, he could be deported following his sentencing. The US deports most criminals convicted of felonies, with the exception of thefts of amounts under $10,000."
Posted by: simon | Mar 16, 2012 3:23:27 PM
@BEABEAH - Ravi's actions may not have been homophobic, and the jury found that way. BUT - it's also reasonable that Clementi would have interpreted the spying and public ridicule as homophobic, and THOSE are the counts that Ravi was found guilty of. There's a big difference, and the jury got it precisely right, imo.
I'm glad the law accounts for that. It's not enough to say Oh I didn't think my roommate would be too troubled if I filmed his sex acts and invited everyone on my twitter feed to watch. No, the law and common decency both demand you think one step ahead and consider how your roommate may react before you act. If instead you act so callously, there are consequences and punishments.
Posted by: Zlick | Mar 16, 2012 3:39:13 PM
"Overcharged"? Among the charges was tampering with evidence. He was of course found GUILTY of that. But by your lights they shouldn[t have done that because that would be "overcharging."
There are a lot of homophobic bullies posting on thsi site.
Posted by: David Ehrenstein | Mar 16, 2012 3:47:16 PM
Good. Unfortunately, it can't bring back Tyler or all the rest of our brothers and sisters that take their lives every year from this kind of crap. But I hope that it gives bullies pause to see this verdict, and think twice, knowing that their actions have consequences. If it can abate the misery of even one gay kid's life by even a small amount, then Tyler's death was not meaningless.
Posted by: Jenn | Mar 16, 2012 3:59:37 PM
Just think what may await Ravi's sweet, young, prison-bound ass. Not that we'd want him to be intimidated by such a prospect.
Posted by: Commenter | Mar 16, 2012 4:01:26 PM
So because somebody doesn't agree with your viewpoint David, we're homophobic bullies?
Again, this case had nothing to do with bullying. Stupidity, yeah. Invasion of privacy, yeah. Evidence tampering, yeah. Homophobic bullying? I don't see it. If this case didn't involve a gay person, that wouldn't even be on the table.
As for whether or not Tyler felt it was homophobia that instigated the taping... that's an assumption that I don't feel comfortable making. And it certainly doesn't mean that was the motive. Tyler killed himself, period. Of course it's tragic. Should Ravi be deported? Send him packing for all I care. But I still think this case is so overblown from a homophobic/bullying standpoint.
Posted by: BEAHBEAH | Mar 16, 2012 4:11:32 PM
Good. But such a sad thing altogether.
Posted by: Matt26 | Mar 16, 2012 4:24:40 PM
JUSTICE IS SERVED! I have been following this case since the beginning and I saw every day of testimony given. I was a little worried at first cuz I didn't think the prosecution was doing a good job in proving the bias intimidation part but Julia was amazing during closings. I hope this gives the Clementi's parents and siblings some closure.
Posted by: Tony | Mar 16, 2012 4:47:37 PM
clearly there wouldn't have been the same lurid interest on ravi's part to spy on a straight liaison, nor would he have "dared" his twitter followers to tune in for the second date. that's homophobia. if he didn't have his own sexuality issues, he wouldn't have cared about a gay roommate's date
the new yorker article was compelling. sadly illuminating is just how "grossed out" male and female 18 year olds react to seeing two males kissing. perhaps they were secretly hoping for more "sensationalism"
Posted by: t | Mar 16, 2012 5:10:50 PM
btw, as a resident of nj attending grad school in pa, i had to pay three times the tuition as an out of state student.
what's the tuition for a non-state resident who also is not a US citizen?
Posted by: t | Mar 16, 2012 5:13:55 PM
I sincerely do believe those defending Ravi, and justifying that he has "absolutely NOTHING to do with Tyler's death"...refuse to see the heart of this story because of their homophobia.
I don't freely throw out the term homophobic, but anyone willing to say Ravi's intentions were not homophobic....is homophobic to me.
Posted by: IonMovies | Mar 16, 2012 5:34:46 PM
I also think that those who can't place themselves in Tyler's shoes (a closeted, KID...child. Who was exposed in the most grotesque manner by an ignorant roomie) fail to have the capability to show empathy to a gay person. They don't believe in gay victims, and when they do see an outright gay victim, they secretly feel good about it. That's what I'm sensing here by some of the self loathers.
Most of my own straight family, and all my straight friends found this case and Ravi's actions horrible and wanted him to serve time for a while. Many gay people just hate other gay people. I pity their souls.
Posted by: USC Trojan Fan | Mar 16, 2012 5:37:21 PM
I'm always fascinated in stories like these where the facts clearly show a roomate, Ravi, who had clear discomforts with with roomate being gay. Yet many gay men will jump on to defend Ravi. Try to spin his actions which are documented. His own other female friend and partner in this testified that Ravi was seeking to disturb Tyler, and did intentionally want to tape him. Tyler was in pain over this and expressed so. How any self respecting gay person could think of defending Ravi, or worse, chalking up his actions as "silly kid having fun" is truly the definition of hate. Hate for LGBT. Hate for LGBT youth, and hate for Tyler Clementi.
Posted by: Real Talk | Mar 16, 2012 5:40:32 PM
I to think its harsh. Sure the guy is an ass, but Clementi had issues before, clearly. Plenty of College guys broadcast themselves poking other guys, its how Chaosmen and Sean Cody make their money on a daily basis.
Ravi was just an enabler for societies hate of the gays.
Posted by: Rovex | Mar 16, 2012 5:49:00 PM
"clearly there wouldn't have been the same lurid interest on ravi's part to spy on a straight liaison, nor would he have "dared" his twitter followers to tune in for the second date. that's homophobia."
Exactly. And I suspect it's the societal context that made it so devastating to Clementi. He wasn't voyeuristically humiliated because he was having sex, but because it was, oooh, ick, gay sex. He knew that. He had just come out, his mother was unsupportive, he knew that much of society held who he was in contempt. When Rhavi applied pressure he applied it with all the pressure of the homophobic mores of society.
Posted by: Linda | Mar 16, 2012 5:49:46 PM
"Again, this case had nothing to do with bullying. Stupidity, yeah. Invasion of privacy, yeah. Evidence tampering, yeah. Homophobic bullying? I don't see it. If this case didn't involve a gay person, that wouldn't even be on the table."
What an over simplified, ignorant...and indeed HOMOPHOBIC approach to the overwhelming evidence of this case that clearly support the *fact* that Ravi had issues with his roomate's sexuality. Have you followed this story 'BeahBeah' or are you another entitled hetro polluting this page pretending to be gay just to vent your disdain for gays. You and your kind are what breed homophobia due to your lack of awareness for your actions, and the actions of other fellow homophobes.
Posted by: Michelle | Mar 16, 2012 5:51:49 PM
Isn't it disturbing how when it relates to homophobia, unless the accussed comes out and says "I want to go on a murder spree and kill all gays"...people don't believe homophobia exists. I mean, I've been carefully studying the details of this story, and Ravi obviously had clear issues with Tyler being gay. Ravi's actions proved that, yet because he didn't make a twitter message declaring hating gays, he possibly can't be homophobic, and couldn't at all have bullied Tyler, and was obviously just a fun loving child who made a mistake. Homophobia at his finest, and I don't mean by Ravi. I mean by the indifference from those commenting.
Posted by: Aarron-ATL | Mar 16, 2012 5:55:18 PM
Those who claim this was an over-charge, claim so because "we don't know all the details" and "we're not sure if Ravi is homophobic" yet they are the same ones who ar emustering up all kinds of reasoning as to why Tyler killed himself "not strong enough." "his family is to blame for not accepting him" and all sorts of other baseless reasoning that have no evidence behind them. What we DO know is that Ravi's actions caused Tyler great pain and suffering. Tyler expressed this many times in the days before his death. The jury heard those cries from Tyler, and now Ravi's life is (rightfully) going to be enduring great punishment.
Those of you coming to bat for Ravi in one breath claim no one knows the details (yet we actually do know a lot of them) and in the other you're painting stories of how there was no bullying in that dorm room. Were you there? Because Tyler was and his words painted a clear enough picture for Ravi to get convicted, and many like myself to believe Ravi went out of his way to ruin his roomates life. Now karma will being doing more of the same with Ravi.
Posted by: Steven Jalinsky | Mar 16, 2012 6:02:07 PM