Dharun Ravi's Lawyer Speaks Out: 'This Is Not The Time For Explanations Of Defenses'

Two weeks after Rutgers University freshman Tyler Clementi jumped from the George Washington Bridge to his death, the lawyer of the young man charged with invasion of privacy in the events apparently surrounding Clementi's suicide has spoken.

"Unfortunately, a life has been lost," said Steven Altman, the attorney for Dharun Ravi, in a statement. "Out of respect to Tyler Clementi's family, this is not the time for explanations of defenses or justifications to be made public by an attorney."

Altman continued:

"In regards to statements made by the prosecuting agencies of their continuing investigation and whether to file bias charges against Dharun Ravi, I am heartened to hear that they are taking their time to learn all the facts before rushing to judgment. I can only hope that the public will do the same. I am confident that nothing will be learned to justify, warrant or support the filing of any bias criminal complaint."

Ravi has been charged with several counts of invasion of privacy for allegedly taping a sexual encounter of Clementi's and broadcasting it on the internet without his knowledge.

Meanwhile, lawyers for Molly Wei, who has also been charged with invasion of privacy in Clementi's death, claim their client is innocent.

In a statement reported yesterday, Wei's lawyers said she is "a wonderful, caring and talented young woman" and that she has been "maligned by unfounded attacks on her character."

WATCH: ABC World News report on the recent rash of gay suicides:

Comments

[valeskas]

12:00 PM on 10/09/2010

Molly Wei, is complaing to her college friends that people do not like her. Molly Wei, you are a hateful person and so is your friend Ravi. Now you can see, how it is not to be liked.

[mollypot]

05:55 PM on 10/08/2010

Unrepentant bullies always get just what they deserve in the end. This lawyer is starting early and poisoning the waters against his client. Lawyer and client deserve each other.

[Dennis Luby]

09:16 AM on 10/08/2010

Now, its up to the lawyers to see if these two are innocent of their actions. If, they both have money I'm sure they will get off with probation and community service, but,both Ms Wei and Mr Ravi must realize this is not an MTV moment but rather Real Life coming home to rest at their front door. For every action there is a equal or greater reaction.Lets follow both these two students around Rutgers campus 24/7 for the next 4 years live stream it on campus, on MTV or a NJ station if one or both are on student aid.Pell Grant etc.... Life both of these college students must understand their actions and take responsibility.

[doublehappi]

10:15 AM on 10/08/2010

you must be joking if you say they will continue study at rutgers - they have ruined their lives and their families lives. I understand your anger but i think at the end of the day - it was a prank - and if this guy knew that it would lead to suicide he woudnt have done it .
Dharun, molly are as responsible as the other members of the rutgers campus who demonize gays, i dont think being caught on camera is the reason for his suicide but the idea of being laeled gay and judged by people in general has driven the kid to death! unfortunate

[CateManhattan]

02:03 AM on 10/10/2010

Oh my. I am sure he knew he was gay far quite some time. The intrusive abuse of being filmed and having the video distributed was the cause of his suicide.

You are trying to belittle the crimes for Dharun & Wei. A "prank"??!!! Let's get a video of you in your next sexual encounter, and we'll distribute it. Let's see how you like it -- you might not suicide if that's not your MO, but I can guarantee you won't be so smug.

[CateManhattan]

01:15 PM on 10/10/2010

You keep on your issue that the problem was being identified as gay --- I wonder why. The grotesque intrusion of being videoed and having the video distributed was the cause of his suicide. You need to reflect on why you are so accepting of the Dharum & Wei videoing as a "prank". It was not a prank in any stretch of the word.

How would you respond if someone secretly videoed you having sex and then distributed it to anyone/everyone -- i.e. a viral distribution? Hmmmm?? But you keep ignoring my question about this.

[Twohairydogs]

12:18 AM on 10/08/2010

I would have a whole lot more respect for Wei and Ravi if they actually admitted guilt. I know, I know...their lawyers would never allow that. However, if these cretinous upstarts could step up and say "We did a horrible thing for the most trival and selfish of reasons." I could almost consider them to be human.

[poliguy70130]

10:29 PM on 10/07/2010

Yes, because there is no explanation or defense for his actions. This guys actions led to someone committing suicide. How can you explain away or defend that. I only hope they amend his indictment to include some sort of manslaughter or negligent homicide charge.

[forkuu]

08:25 PM on 10/07/2010

i would like to know more about wei's role in this. it has not been made exactly clear . any involvement however small is despicable.

[1Woman4Obama]

07:08 PM on 10/07/2010

Why allow comments at all if you are going to screen extensively and then erase so many comments?

[Beth Hibbard]

12:54 AM on 10/08/2010

You might hurt somebody's feelings. Or you are not enough of a liberal.

[Vernon Brown]

10:29 AM on 10/08/2010

You certainly are not.

[J Accuse]

04:41 PM on 10/07/2010

Why doesn't Rutgers simply expel these cretins? At the very least, I'd say that double secret probation is in order.

[Bill J4321]

04:38 PM on 10/07/2010

If I had a chance to speak with Dharun Ravi, I would simply ask him if the brief moment of superiority he felt was worth giving up what remains of his youth to sit in a jail cell.

For if Dharun Ravi himself had an ounce of self-esteem, self-respect or a single idea of what being a true man is really all about, he wouldn't have had to degrade a gay kid to the point of suicide in order to stroke his own fragile masculinity.

[forkuu]

07:59 PM on 10/07/2010

well said

[Twohairydogs]

12:21 AM on 10/08/2010

He'd probably tell you it seemed like fun at the time.

[KeyBaby305]

04:34 PM on 10/07/2010

Molly and Dharun are still alive and have a chance of living a somewhat normal life. Tyler will be unable to do so. What about him? Who defended him? What about his rights?

Tyler was a decent human being that took his life as a result of the irresponsible, childish and indecent actions of two seemingly 'caring' individuals.

I am utterly disgusted by the total lack of sympathy.

[doublehappi]

10:40 AM on 10/08/2010

They are friggin 18, i dont know about you but i was irresponsible and childish at that age, i feel very sad for the kid who died, and i know molly and dharun have ruined their lives and their families lives,

[jukesgrrl]

11:08 PM on 10/08/2010

Forget about 18. By the time people are 8 they should have developed enough empathy to avoid doing hurtful things like that to their fellow human beings. If they haven't they either weren't parented properly or they have some kind of disorder. That goes for all bullies -- from middle school to college. Laws against bullying need to be strengthened, and the people who are running educational institutions need to bring the full force of the law down on these abhorrent youths before more innocent kids die.

[rh654]

04:09 PM on 10/07/2010

What straight guy watches two guys going at it? - I think Ravi needs to explain his own sexuality on this one - and he may have time to explore it also with a nice cell mate.

[ZenSufi]

03:48 PM on 10/07/2010

She's innocent? No Wei.

[goodmarina]

03:33 PM on 10/07/2010

these lawyers are priceless ...

someone is dead because of the callous & deliberate actions of their clients

who speaks for the dead young man?

[Vernon Brown]

10:31 AM on 10/08/2010

It'll probably be the prosecutor, a priceless lawyer.

[floydcash]

03:07 PM on 10/07/2010

Shame on our adults and politicians for making gay teens feel like suicide is an acceptable answer.

Obama is against gay marriage. What a shining example of intolerance...

[goodmarina]

03:33 PM on 10/07/2010

of course, let's pin this one on Obama, too

[lapet]

06:40 PM on 10/07/2010

Yes, but he also supported same sex unions which would be equal to married couples rights. Where are those?

[rh654]

04:08 PM on 10/07/2010

Shame on Obama and shame on the Republican Party for having this type of crap as its official doctrine to drive voting!!!

[Furry1968]

05:25 PM on 10/07/2010

I'm a yellow dog Democrat, but you are absolutely right - to paraphrase Kanye, Obama doesn't care about gay people....we need a president who spends less time with the Bible and more time with the people...

[Gingercake]

02:39 PM on 10/07/2010

Both Ravi and Wei need to serve prison time. There is no excuse for their behavior. As for the person that said Wei is a "wonderful, caring and talented woman", a "wonderful, caring and talented" woman does not engage in such deplorable behavior.

[forkuu]

08:01 PM on 10/07/2010

of course their friends would say this . birds of a feather flock together remember? they see no harm in what these to cretins did.