Dharun Ravi 'Uncomfortable' With Gay Roommate, Webcam Spying Witness Says

Dharun Ravi "appeared uncomfortable" with his gay roommate, according to damaging testimony from an ultimate frisbee teammate today.

New Jersey prosecutors called Geoffrey Irving to the stand to strengthen their case against Ravi, 20. They allege that he bullied his roommate, Tyler Clementi, for being gay and used a computer camera to spy on him during romantic encounters with another man in September 2010.

Irving, now a graduate of Rutgers University, said that Ravi talked about having a gay roommate several times, according to the Star-Ledger.

"He appeared uncomfortable with the situation," said Irving, who was captain of Ravi's ultimate frisbee team.

While on the stand, Irving also said that Ravi told him he'd spied on Clementi and that he planned to do it again, the New York Daily News reported.

A day after Ravi allegedly invited friends to watch his roommate's love life via a webcam, Clementi, 18, complained to dorm officials and then jumped to his death from the George Washington Bridge.

SEE A TIMELINE OF EVENTS FROM THE WEBCAM SPYING CASE

The words from Irving were the most damaging testimony yet that Ravi had a problem with Clementi's sexuality.

Ravi's defense has argued that it was just a sophomoric prank to use the webcam and write about it on Twitter, not a malicious act motivated by homophobia.

Earlier this week, the prosecution called Ravi's friends to the stand. Molly Wei said that she and Ravi used her computer to connect to a webcam placed in Ravi's dorm room. When they turned it on, she said they saw Clementi and another man -- later identified as "M.B." -- embracing. After a few seconds, she said they shut off the camera.

In addition to bias intimidation and invasion of privacy, Ravi is charged with witness and evidence tampering. The prosecution claims he deleted tweets from his Twitter account related to Clementi and questioned Wei about what she told police.

Wei testified that Ravi sent her text messages when she was being questioned by cops, but said he didn't pressure her to alter her story.

In all, Ravi is charged with 15 counts and faces 10 years in prison if convicted of the most serious hate crime charge.

Wei was also charged with invasion of privacy, but avoided jail time by accepting a plea deal and agreeing to testify against Ravi, whom she's known since high school.

Yesterday, the jury also heard from Lokesh Ojha who said Ravi asked him to help set up the webcam that was allegedly used to view Clementi and his mystery date. However, Ojha says Ravi didn't explain why they were positioning the device.

Although prosecutors contend that Ravi used the webcam because of a bias against gay people, the defense has tried to convince jurors that he was perhaps keeping an eye on his belongings. Scott Xu, one of Ravi's friends, said on Monday that Ravi described "M.B." as looking "kind of shady."

Comments

[jf archonis]

11:50 AM on 03/15/2012

WAS RAVI AS UNCOMFORTABLE WITH A HOMOSEXUAL ROOMMATE, AS TYLER CLEMENTE'S MOTHER WAS UNCOMFORTABLE ABOUT HAVING A HOMOSEXUAL FOR A SON?

[robjh1]

09:08 AM on 03/12/2012

"Ravi's defense has argued that it was just a sophomoric prank to use the webcam and write about it on Twitter, not a malicious act motivated by homophobia."

A case of boys being boys or "college prank." WRONG! Heck! An excuse like that can be used by anyone. Mr. Ravi invaded a persons privacy which resulted in a death. You can't take that back.

[jf archonis]

11:51 AM on 03/15/2012

TYLER CLEMENTE'S MOTHER REJECTED HER HOMOSEXUAL SON AND IT RESULTED IN DEATH.

CAN WE CHARGE HER WITH A HATE-CRIME?

[robjh1]

12:18 PM on 03/15/2012

Did she broadcast his private encounter with a lover or another to the world? If so arrest and charge her.

[robjh1]

02:31 AM on 03/16/2012

You gotta be freakin' kidding me when you say "Ravi" lived there. If that reasoning holds true than the government can do what ever the hell they want in the privacy of our homes. The same holds true for mortgage lenders and landlords. WAKE UP BUDDY! You might not like what is happening to Ravi but he stepped into the mess when he decided to tape his roommate without consent. If the roommate wanted to be taped by Ravi, he would have asked him to tape him. Futhermore why did Ravi try to conceal what he had done? He knew he had exercised poor judgment!

[Oscar Katime]

06:59 PM on 03/06/2012

All this would not happen if people were a bit more cautious with what they do online and how they protect themselves.

I use webcamlock (http://www.webcamlock.net/), a great little application that lets me control the webcam in my computer....by the way, it is amazing the number of times the software alerts me that someone is trying to access my cam!

[one1byke]

02:07 PM on 03/05/2012

... uppity,
rooms with a gay guy and spies on him,
hangs with queens.
snitch, informer, rat
soft,
let's see..... what else...

he'd better learn some new codes Quick! before the Prison term starts.
I recommend "Nat Geo:Hardest Prisons. Ironwood"

[edgySF]

06:35 PM on 03/04/2012

Ok, so Ravi is homophobic -- yet he opted to not only live with a gay roommate, he also pointed his web cam at his SCARY gay roommate's bed while said SCARY roomie had a date over.

My brother is afraid of clowns. He doesn't live with a clown, and he certainly doesn't want to spy on them having sex!!

Ravi's got issues!! Straight people are so twisted!!

[reddy52]

02:29 AM on 03/06/2012

Heterophobe.

[Politidelic]

12:48 PM on 03/06/2012

He made a really good point and there's no phobia there, it's a comment on Ravi's psychology.

[jf archonis]

11:53 AM on 03/15/2012

so Ravi is homophobic -- yet he opted to not only live with a gay roommate, he also pointed his web cam at his SCARY gay roommate's bed while said SCARY roomie had a date over.

SOUNDS LIKE RAVI IS A HOMOSEXUAL OR CURIOUS, NOT HOMOPHOBIC.

[anontdh]

01:15 PM on 03/04/2012

WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT HOMOSEXUALITY
1. Leviticus 18:22
“Do not practice homosexuality, having sex with another man as with a woman. It is a detestable sin.
Leviticus 18:21-23 (in Context) Leviticus 18 (Whole Chapter)
2. Leviticus 20:13
“If a man practices homosexuality, having sex with another man as with a woman, both men have committed a detestable act. They must both be put to death, for they are guilty of a capital offense.
Leviticus 20:12-14 (in Context) Leviticus 20 (Whole Chapter)
3. 1 Corinthians 6:9
Don’t you realize that those who do wrong will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don’t fool yourselves. Those who indulge in sexual sin, or who worship idols, or commit adultery, or are male prostitutes, or practice homosexuality,
1 Corinthians 6:8-10 (in Context) 1 Corinthians 6 (Whole Chapter)
4. Timothy 1:10
The law is for people who are sexually immoral, or who practice homosexuality, or are slave traders, liars, promise breakers, or who do anything else that contradicts the wholesome teaching
1 Timothy 1:9-11 (in Context) 1 Timothy 1 (Whole Chapter)

[edgySF]

06:29 PM on 03/04/2012

Jesus said NOTHING about homosexuality.

The Bible also says not to touch pig skin. So the entire NFL is as "guilty" as homos.

Some nice Christians, back in the old days, used the Bible to justify slavery.

Quit using the Bible as a weapon. Jesus was inclusive -- not exclusive. It is not up to you to judge another person.

[Politidelic]

12:48 PM on 03/06/2012

Save the drama for your mama....

[Mara Valensuela]

08:42 AM on 03/04/2012

My room mate and I do not get along (I am actually at Rutgers too). We have a personality clash, thing is you cant just up and move to another room. You have to find someone who is willing to swap rooms with you, unless you are being bullied or physically hurt by your room mate the RA and Housing Committee do not intervene. However, this is not an excuse, he could have looked around and found someone to swap with (like I have done). There is no excuse for spying on your room mate with a webcam, that's just weird and creepy. He should have been honest and said he was a homophobe and then they would have found him somewhere else to stay.

[Midlife45]

07:30 AM on 03/04/2012

I would like to see the punishment of 6 months in prison for what he thought was funny. He ruined someones life. Not everyone is into making porn movies even though many seem to be. He could have done a lot of things before he pull the rug out on a roommate he did not like, by showing the video he made in secret of his roommate, that then killed himself. For all in the world, not just gays, people have a right to privacy and we needs those laws in place and enforced. Sorry, that's the way it is and going to be from here on out. The computer did not and will not have all the answers on its own.

[Clevelandinwi]

04:08 PM on 03/03/2012

A wee bit homophobic, are we? Wow! Jury should reach a quick one on this.

[racmd]

11:18 AM on 03/03/2012

He could have moved....after all it was his right!

[Ganji]

02:35 AM on 03/03/2012

...um why wouldn't he be..I would have asked to be transferred

[Ron Menge]

12:33 AM on 03/03/2012

In many cultures/religions, homosexuality is wrong and sinful. What if a college student of such background is assigned a gay roommate? Do they have the right to be away from gays?

[tybofborg]

08:14 AM on 03/03/2012

Sure they do. They are free to request a room change, or move out of the dormitory and rent an apartment on their own dime. That is, unless they decide that the appropriate action is rather broadcasting said gay roommate's private affairs on the internet, in which case they may end up reassigned into an entirely different kind of "dorm room" where they won't have that kind of choice...

[joemondo]

09:28 AM on 03/03/2012

Like a KKK member might want to not room with a black student, sure: request a room change.

[jf archonis]

12:01 PM on 03/15/2012

Like a KKK member might want to not room with a black student

LIKE A LIBERAL MIGHT NOT WANT TO ROOM WITH SOMEONE THAT:

HAS FAITH IN A DEITY
IS PRO-LIFE
IS CONSERVATIVE POLITICALLY
DOESN'T FOLLOW THE GLOBAL WARMING CULT
DOESN'T PROMOTE COMMUNISM
BELIEVES "MARRIAGE" IS ONLY FOR A MAN AND A WOMAN
BELIEVES IN STRONG NATIONAL DEFENSE

[Ron Menge]

12:27 AM on 03/03/2012

Any normal man will be uncomfortable with a gay roommate, unless they have known each other for a long time. This is not hate.

[jamsie]

04:27 AM on 03/03/2012

Bull hockey.

[edgySF]

10:34 AM on 03/03/2012

so a gay man isn't a normal man?

[jf archonis]

12:01 PM on 03/15/2012

NOPE.

[joemondo]

11:25 PM on 03/02/2012

2C:16-1. Bias intimidation. [excerpted]

a. Bias Intimidation. A person is guilty of the crime of bias intimidation if he commits, attempts to commit, conspires with another to commit, or threatens the immediate commission of an offense...

(1) with a purpose to intimidate an individual or group of individuals because of race, color, religion, gender, handicap, sexual orientation, or ethnicity; or

(2) knowing that the conduct constituting the offense would cause an individual or group of individuals to be intimidated because of race, color, religion, gender, handicap, sexual orientation, or ethnicity; or

(3) under circumstances that caused any victim of the underlying offense to be intimidated and the victim, considering the manner in which the offense was committed, reasonably believed either that (a) the offense was committed with a purpose to intimidate the victim or any person or entity in whose welfare the victim is interested because of race, color, religion, gender, handicap, sexual orientation, or ethnicity, or (b) the victim or the victim's property was selected to be the target of the offense because of the victim's race, color, religion, gender, handicap, sexual orientation, or ethnicity.

[anothervoice2]

11:48 PM on 03/02/2012

Excellent job reposting the charge for the 100th time!

Except, the former NJ Prosecutor is not sure the Prosecution has made such a case. He states their own witnesses hurt their case - on the charge you parroted above.

[joemondo]

12:11 AM on 03/03/2012

That's not the charge, ducky, just detail on one statute.

Learn it.

[jf archonis]

12:11 PM on 03/15/2012

2C:16-1. Bias intimidation

NOT INTIMIDATED: “When I first read the tweet I defs felt violated,” Clementi wrote to a friend. “But then… When I remembered what actually happened…Idk…Doesn’t seem soooo bad lol.

INTIMIDATED: “Clementi told his family he was gay shortly before leaving for college and received a mixed reaction from his parents. “It’s a good thing dad is ok w/it or I would be in serious trouble/ mom has basically completely rejected me,” Clementi wrote in another instant messaging chat with a friend.

IT'S TIME FOR PROSECUTORS TO GO AFTER THE REAL "BIAS CRIMINAL" HERE:
TYLER CLEMENTI'S MOTHER.

[fredimessina]

10:31 PM on 03/02/2012

The dismissive attitude in which people have towards Ravi's actions leads me to ask the question; What if it had been a co-ed situation in which it was a female that Ravi had recorded and led to the same outcome? Would we be so quick to call his actions "just a prank" then? Here's the things with homophobes. They aren't going to be passive in their actions because they fell superiority towards gay people. He would have never moved out or even requested it. He did what homophobes do, which is to go out of their way to humiliate. To make THEM go away. Tyler may have had issues with his coming out, but so do most gay people. Ravi's actions clearly triggered the outcome. It would have been exactly the same if his suicide had been without completion. What people need to know is that this is a perfect example of what has happened to alot of young men and women who were abused and humiliated because of the fact that they are gay. This just happens to be a situation where the bullies got caught in the act and are now being held responsible.

[anothervoice2]

10:58 PM on 03/02/2012

Seems like the Prosecution has "inferred' your conclusions too.

Except, setting aside one's preconceived notions on what constitutes anti-gay behavior, in such criminal cases, they need evidence of the said bias. There is none. ALL of Ravi's friends said it was more about MB's appearance and age. If there was evidence, the Feds would have gotten involved. The penalties are worse.

[joemondo]

11:33 PM on 03/02/2012

No, not really.

Per 2C:16-1, the prosector needs to prove Ravi's crimes were committed with a purpose to intimidate an individual or group of individuals because of race, color, religion, gender, handicap, sexual orientation, or ethnicity; or his crimes caused the victim of the underlying offense to be intimidated and the victim, considering the manner in which the offense was committed, reasonably believed either that (a) the offense was committed with a purpose to intimidate the victim because of race, color, religion, gender, handicap, sexual orientation, or ethnicity.