NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J.—Following almost three weeks of testimony, the
Rutgers University invasion of privacy case that set off a national
discussion about cyber-bullying and treatment of young gays was handed
over to a New Jersey jury on Wednesday.
It will be up those five men and seven women to determine if Dharun
Ravi, the 20-year-old former student who used a webcam in September
2010 to broadcast his roommate's intimate encounter with another man,
was motivated by hatred for gays or if his actions where those of an
immature teen who went too far. The roommate, Tyler Clementi, 18,
killed himself shortly after discovering the spying.
After nearly two hours of jury instructions Wednesday morning from
Middlesex County Superior Court Judge Glenn Berman, the jury retreated
to a deliberation room and held nearly 3 ½ hours of discussion before
going home for the night.
The jurors returned to the courtroom twice in the afternoon. At 1
p.m., they asked the judge for the script for the instructions he gave
them, and the judge declined the request. A half-hour later they asked
the judge to reread the details of the first count of bias
intimidation, asking for definitions of the terms "purpose" and
"intimidating."
The jury is considering 15 felony charges against Ravi, including
invasion of privacy, bias intimidation, witness tampering and
hindering prosecution in a case that could set a precedent about the
rights of victims.
The most serious are the four bias intimidation charges, which are
considered hate crimes and carry a prison sentence of up to 10 years.
Ravi could receive a shorter prison sentence even if he is only
convicted on lesser charges.
For each of the bias intimidation charges, the jury must decide
whether Ravi targeted Clementi or M.B., the unnamed witness with him
during the dorm-room dates, "with the purpose to intimidate" because
of their sexual orientation, according to the charges. They must also
decide if Ravi knew his actions would "cause" intimidation.
Within each of the bias charges, the jury must also decide if Clementi
was "intimidated" by Ravi's actions and "reasonably believed that he
was selected to be the target," according to the charges. Judge Berman
has said during court proceedings that the bias intimidation law is
largely untested.
The defense won a victory on the interpretation of the bias
intimidation law when Judge Berman ruled that a conviction must follow
from unanimous agreement on each question under the four counts. "If
there is an ambiguity in interpretation, it must tilt towards the
defendant," the judge said.
Ravi, who was born in India but has spent most of his life in the U.S.
as a permanent resident, faces the possibility of deportation if he is
convicted. He rejected a plea deal in December that would have kept
him out of prison and offered him assistance with immigration
authorities.
More:
http://blogs.wsj.com/metropolis/2012/03/14/tyler-clementi-case-in-rutgers-spying-trial-jury-asks-about-bias-charges/
--
Together, we can change the world, one mind at a time.
Have a great day,
Tommy
--
Together, we can change the world, one mind at a time.
Have a great day,
Tommy
--
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