Defense in Rutgers bullying case seeks access to Tyler Clementi’s computer documents
“There was no bias, no intimidation and there was no bullying done. Nor was there any bullying intended or bias intended.”
Steven Altman, attorney for Dharun Ravi, the former Rutgers student who came to national attention in September 2010 when he secretly broadcast on the internet a video feed of his roommate, Tyler Clementi, having a sexual encounter with another man. Shortly after learning of the video, Clementi committed suicide by jumping from the George Washington Bridge. The story became a prominent part of the nationwide discussion about bullying of LGBT children and teens.
Ravi, who left Rutgers, is charged with 15 criminal counts, including “bias intimidation, invasion of privacy and evidence tampering,” according to Reuters. His defense team is seeking access to documents from Clementi’s personal computer, a handwritten note found after Clementi’s death, and the identity of the male student who was in the video with Clementi.
“We think we have a right to have him identified because we certainly would like to talk to him,” said Altman, outside the court room. The defense plans to use the information to argue that the charges against Ravi should be dismissed.
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