Tyler Clementi Case: Dormmate & Resident Assistant Testifies

As the trial for Dharun Ravi gets underway, new details begin to emerge.

Dharun Ravi’s trial

A dormmate of Dharun Ravi testified on Wednesday in Superior Court in New Brunswick, NJ that he helped Ravi set up a webcam to spy on his gay roommate’s encounter with another man, reports the Daily News.

Lokesh Ohja explained how he helped set up a web cam that could be accessed from remote locations.

Ravi’s roommate, Tyler Clementi, died by suicide after learning about the web cam. Ravi was charged with bias intimidation as a hate crime, along with invasion of privacy and hindering apprehension. He was not charged in connection to Clementi’s death.

Witnesses testified that Tyler had been spied on through webcam on September 19, 2010, and Ravi attempted to spy again on September 21, 2010.

Clementi realized he was being spied on Sept. 19th, 2010 and disconnected the webcam on the evening of Sept. 21, 2010, when he and a man known as M.B. were in the room together. The man is only being identified by those initials to keep his privacy to the public and jurors, according to reports.

A Rutgers dorm assistant testified saying he had filed a report saying Clementi seemed “uncomfortable and upset” with his roommate, a day before killing himself.

Raahi Grover testified Clementi came to his room with a conflict, and had a closed-door meeting.

“I could tell by the tone of his voice he seemed a little uncomfortable, so I knew this was a necessary for a closed door conversation,” Grover testified. “It seemed like his voice was a little shaky and as well he was a little quiet.” – NY Daily News

The jury was not allowed to hear what Clementi told Grover, but the resident assistant filed an incident report to university officials.

“Tyler Clementi approached me … to discuss an issue of violation of privacy against his roommate Dharun Ravi,” Grover wrote in the report.

“Tyler is quite upset and feels uncomfortable. Tyler prefers a roommate swap asap and would like to see some sort of punishment for Dharun Ravi.” – NY Daily News

Grover also included in his report an email Clementi sent outlining his grievances and problems.

Ravi is on trial on charges he used a webcam to spy on his roommate Clementi before he jumped off the George Washington Bridge.

Grover also testified Wednesday he approached Ravi the day after his chat with Clementi to inform him a complaint had been filed with university officials.

“(Ravi) attempts to explain himself,” Grover said. “I stopped him from explaining to me the entire situation … It’s not me he needs to be explaining to.”

Source New York Daily News