After over a year since Tyler Clementi tragically jumped to his death from the George Washington Bridge, his Rutgers University roommate Dahrun Ravi, who many blame for the suicide since he filmed the gay teen being intimate with another man in their room via webcam, will finally stand trial for multiple counts of invasion of privacy, witness tampering, hindering prosecution and bias intimidation, and could face up to ten years in prison if convicted!
The jury selection is set to begin today in New Brunswick, NJ, and the trial is expected to be broadcast live across the country, with the exception of Clementi’s lover, only known to the public as M.B., being filmed during this testimony, as to protect his identity. His full name does appear on the questionnaire presented to the potential jurors, but they are forbidden to release that information.
However, despite the attention this story has received in the media, former New Jersey prosecutor Robert Honecker says that the actually case will be difficult to rule on, and explains:
“Pressure from gay rights groups, and global media attention made this case one that had to be prosecuted. Yet the charges themselves are very difficult to prove. This story has all the levels necessary to cause a media storm — young college students from a big university, bias intimidation, ├óΓé¼┬ª pressure from advocacy groups, and family members saying he was just an innocent foolish kid.”
We just sincerely hope that the jury will try to ignore the press surrounding this tragedy, and make their decisions based on the validity of the arguments heard in the courtroom in an objective and fair fashion.
May Tyler R.I.P.
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