Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Tyler Clementi's Roomate Was Just Scared, Says Defense In Closing
By
Jen Chung
Published Mar 14, 2012
Modified Mar 14, 2012
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jen Chung
Published Mar 14, 2012
Modified Mar 14, 2012
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Yesterday, the prosecution and defense gave their closing statements in the trial of Dharun Ravi, the former Rutgers University student charged with multiple counts of invasion of privacy, bias intimidation and hindering apprehension, stemming from the suicide of roommate Tyler Clementi. While prosecutor Julia McClure emphasized Ravi's apparent bias towards gays, defense attorney Steven Altman painted a starkly different picture of his client.
In September 2010, Ravi had set up a webcam in the dorm room he shared with roommate Tyler Clementi and and viewed Clementi and Clementi's guest during intimate encounters, sometimes sharing a link to view the livestream via Twitter. Clementi killed himself by jumping off the George Washington Bridge the day after the third time he was filmed. According to the Star-Ledger, Altman told the 15-person jury (12 will decide the case; three are alternates), "An 18-year-old boy, a kid, a college freshman had an experience, had an encounter that he wasn't ready for, that he didn't expect, that he was surprised by. And he didn't know how to deal with it because he was a kid."
Also, Altman worked hard to remind the jury that Clementi's guest was "scruffy" and that Ravi was monitoring his belongings, pointing out that Clementi and his guest—who met online— had never met physically before their first meeting in Clementi and Ravi's dorm room, "Who wouldn't be curious, who wouldn't be wondering, who wouldn't be concerned? It's your room and all of a sudden ... somebody comes in looking scruffy and homeless-looking and suspicious-looking."
In her closing, prosecutor McClure pointed out that Clementi had viewed Ravi's Twitter account, which publicly mentioned how his roommate was "making out with a dude." She said, "Three weeks into his college experience and [Clementi] finds out that his sexual orientation has been broadcast to the defendant's twitter followers. He find out that his private sexual activity has been exposed What do you think he's thinking? If [Ravi's friend] Molly saw it, did Cassie see it? Did other people on that hallway see it? You don't think he was intimidated by learning that information?"
Ravi faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted of all charges.
Tagged
bias intimidation
dharun ravi
hate crime
rutgers university
spying
tyler clementi
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Retired NYPD detective charged with murder in George Washington Bridge shooting
Police say a Rockland County man was fatally shot during what appeared to be a road rage incident on Tuesday night.
By
Charles Lane
Published Oct 21, 2026 at 4:26 p.m. ET
Modified Oct 21, 2026 at 5:43 p.m. ET
NYPD officer faces disciplinary trial 10 years after killing Delrawn Small
Officer Wayne Isaacs will go on trial in January on a charge that he used improper force when he shot and killed Delrawn Small in East New York in July 2016.
By
Ben Feuerherd
News
NYPD officer faces disciplinary trial 10 years after killing Delrawn Small
Officer Wayne Isaacs will go on trial in January on a charge that he used improper force when he shot and killed Delrawn Small in East New York in July 2016.
By
Ben Feuerherd
NYC adult daycare operators charged with committing over $500K in Medicaid fraud
By
Caroline Lewis
Port Authority eyes $117M fix to Manhattan roadway where falling debris smashed cars
By
Ramsey Khalifeh
Bronx couple starved their 3-year-old to death, indictment says
By
Catalina Gonella
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .