The defense team representing the former Rutgers University student accused of spying on roommate Tyler Clementi is seeking dismissal of the charges against him, citing new evidence.
Attorneys for Dharun Ravi submitted copies of text messages, online chats and Twitter postings exchanged between Clementi, Ravi and others that provide an overview of the days leading up to Clementi’s September suicide — information the defense says was not presented to the grand jury that indicted Ravi on 15 counts, including numerous bias charges.
According to investigators, Ravi remotely accessed the webcam in the dorm he shared with Clementi and saw his roommate having a sexual encounter with another man and streamed the video live on the Internet, attempting to direct his Twitter followers to the feed later.
Clementi found out about the spying incidents and investigators said he began the process of a room change but, on Sept. 22, committed suicide by jumping from the George Washington Bridge.
Court documents submitted last week state Ravi text-messaged Clementi at 8:56 that night, 14 minutes after Clementi posted on his Facebook that he was going to jump off the bridge.
“I’ve known you were gay, and I have no problem with it,” the text said. “In fact, one of my closest friends is gay … I don’t want your freshman year to be ruined because of a petty misunderstanding. It’s adding to my guilt.”
Ravi added he understood if Clementi changed rooms but didn’t want him to feel pressured.
Grand-jury testimony submitted in the motion detailed that Ravi and friend Molly Wei were the only two to initially view the feed, but a few minutes later turned it back on with four other females present.
Before the second encounter Sept. 21, Ravi allegedly attempted to check the camera angle on his webcam from several other students’ computers, with one student testifying he wanted to ensure it was pointing at Clementi’s bed.
Ravi found out Clementi was gay before they moved in together, after an online search linked his e-mail address to sites for gay men, and he described his new roommate as the “most gay person I’ve ever seen” to a friend in an online chat.
According to the documents, Clementi came out to his family shortly before leaving for college, but was “completely rejected” by his mother.
Tension apparently was building between the roommates during the first few weeks in college, as Clementi chatted with friends online about how Ravi would dress in the closet because he felt uncomfortable; in another online exchange, Clementi ridiculed Ravi’s Indian heritage.
Defense attorney Steve Altman asked the judge to order prosecutors to turn over identifying information on the man with whom Clementi was involved to the defense team.
The next court proceeding is scheduled for Sept. 9.
Jen Colletta can be reached at [email protected].