Dharun Ravi Trial - The Myth and The Facts
In September of 2010 two Rutgers University freshman students Dharun Ravi and Molly Wei secretly recorded a sexual encounter between another freshman student Tyler Clementi and another man. Tyler Clementi was Dharun's roommate at the dormitory. Then the recording was posted on the internet for the whole world to see. Tyler who was not out as gay was humiliated by the sex tape that everybody saw and took his own life by jumping off the George Washington bridge.
The above was the narrative that was spread by the media and the LGBT community and was believed to be true by the American public for nearly a year and a half.
And then came the article written by Ian Parker in the New Yorker magazine on February 6, 2012. This article told the real story. Most of the real story. And the rest of the facts have come out since, trickling little at a time. Many articles and editorials have now been written on this case. You have to read a lot of them to find out the facts. Finding the truth is never easy. But spreading a simplistic story about Good Vs Evil is very easy.
Dharun was slapped with 15 counts of criminal charges by the State of New Jersey and it contained 35 sub-counts of criminal charges. Charges included invasion of privacy, tampering with evidence, witness tampering and biggest of all the bias intimidation charge which is a hate crime and has very harsh punishment. The jury convicted him on all 15 main counts including the hate crime charge and acquitted him on some sub-counts. Sentencing is scheduled for May 21, 2012. The judge can sentence Dharun for up to 10 years in prison followed by an automatic deportation to India. Dharun was 18 at the time of the incident and he is now 20 years old. The LGBT rights movement is not satisfied with just the convictions. They want to see Dharun get a harsh punishment. So they are still out campaigning for it with more new lies.
To find out the facts of this case I have provided links to some very good articles, in my opinion. Please read them and find out for yourself. The New Yorker article is a must-read and should be read first.
The New Yorker article by Ian Parker - The Story of a Suicide
http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2...fa_fact_parker
Burden of Proof, Analysis by Chris Cuomo, ABC News
http://abcnews.go.com/US/rutgers-tri...4#.T293mdWEnBQ
Mark DiIonno, Star-Ledger Columnist interviews Dharun after the verdict
http://blog.nj.com/njv_mark_diionno/...harun_rav.html
Mark DiIonno, Star-Ledger Columnist on why Ravi did not take the plea deal
http://blog.nj.com/njv_mark_diionno/...onviction.html
Mark DiIonno, Star-Ledger Columnist on the muddled law
http://blog.nj.com/njv_mark_diionno/...slation_e.html
Star-Ledger Column by John Farmer Jr., Dean of Rutgers School of Law-Newark
http://blog.nj.com/njv_guest_blog/20...ows_viral.html
The New York Times Op-Ed by Emily Bazelon
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/20/op...=2&ref=opinion
A hateless hate crime - Jacob Sullum for Reason Magazine
http://reason.com/archives/2012/03/2...ess-hate-crime
Punishing people for others' suicide (Techdirt.com)
http://www.techdirt.com/articles/201...-mistake.shtml
CNN Op-Ed by Paul Butler
http://www.cnn.com/2012/03/17/opinio...iref=allsearch
The Tyler Clementi and Dharun Ravi we will never know - Richard Kim for The Nation
http://www.thenation.com/blog/166902...ill-never-know
Dharun Ravi Trial - The Myth and The Facts
Responses:
-
From: Neel D on 30th May 2012 05:07 AM [Full View]
The judge has given jail time for the following:
- ATTEMPTED invasion of privacy (Sep 21, 2010)
- trying to tell Molly Wei what to tell police
- trying to influence what Molly Wei told police
- not telling the police the complete truth
- tampering with the evidence (tweets, chats)
The judge has given probation for the following:
- Invasion of privacy (Sep 19, 2010)
- Bias intimidation (Sep 19)
- Bias intimidation (Sep 21)
A probation sentence on the more serious charges of invasion of privacy and bias intimidation show that the judge believes that these charges are unfair. He even said that he did not believe Ravi hated Clementi. Wish the judge had overturned the conviction on these charges. But, maybe the judge thought that it would create another political storm (by the LGBT militia) and make the whole saga continue if he overturned the conviction. By letting the conviction stand but giving a light sentence he has avoided a political storm and has been fair to Dharun Ravi as much as possible. Also, the bias intimidation convictions have a presumption of incarceration. The judge has probably set a bold precedent by only giving a probation sentence for this charge. It actually reduces the intensity of a hate crime charge now. The judge may have sent a message that if a serious charge is misused then he will use his power to bring down the seriousness of the charge itself.
-
From: Neel D on 31st May 2012 04:43 AM [Full View]
The judge speaks...
Excerpts below. Link at the bottom.
--> No matter how “unconscionable” Mr. Ravi’s conduct, Judge Glenn Berman said in a court hearing, “I can’t find it in me to remand him to state prison that houses people convicted of offenses such as murder, armed robbery and rape. “I don’t believe that that fits this case,” the judge continued. “I believe that he has to be punished, and he will be.”
--> Judge Berman noted that the punishment was harsher in some ways than what was recommended in a report by the correction official who did the presentencing interview with Mr. Ravi. That report recommended against any incarceration or fine.
--> On Wednesday, the lead prosecutor elaborated on that, telling Judge Berman that she thought a five-year sentence would have been appropriate.
--> While last week the judge reserved his harshest words for Mr. Ravi, on Wednesday he engaged in a tense exchange with Julia McClure, the first assistant prosecutor for Middlesex County, saying he would not comment on her appeal, but accusing her of “smirking” as he explained his reasoning for the sentencing.
--> In reaching his sentence, the judge said he started with the agreement the prosecution had made with Molly Wei, who had viewed the webcam with Mr. Ravi the first night he spied on Mr. Clementi and his visitor. Ms. Wei was spared prosecution in an agreement to testify against Mr. Ravi, agreeing to three years’ probation and 300 hours of community service. Believing that “consistency breeds fairness,” the judge said he gave Mr. Ravi community service and probation. “It wasn’t my deal,” he said. “It was the state’s.”
--> He argued that the Legislature intended prison terms to be attached to bias crimes that were “assaultive or violent in nature,” not invasion of privacy. “I also know his age,” Judge Berman added, calling it a mitigating factor. “I believe justice compels me to deviate from the guidelines,” he said.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/31/ny...ewanted=1&_r=1
-
From: app_engine on 31st May 2012 07:29 PM [Full View]
Over all, Judge Berman said the sentence “was fair, it was appropriate, and most of all, it was consistent.”
-
From: Neel D on 1st June 2012 04:44 AM [Full View]
Dharun Ravi begins jail sentence...
http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/201...t_sheriff.html
Clementis reject Ravi apology...
http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headline...-suicide-case/
-
From: Neel D on 17th June 2012 08:52 PM [Full View]
Dharun Ravi to be released from jail this week. The prosecution claims that the sentence was "illegal".
Ravi has appealed to overturn conviction. The prosecution has appealed for a longer jail term.
http://www.northjersey.com/news/NJ_m...e_Tuesday.html
-
From: Neel D on 19th June 2012 07:46 PM [Full View]
Dharun Ravi released from prison. Immigration will not initiate deportation.
http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/201...ed_from_m.html
-
From: raagadevan on 16th July 2012 03:13 AM [Full View]
"Rajat Gupta and Dharun Ravi: Two Trials, One Lesson"
-Sandip Roy in The Huffington Post
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sandip...b_1615483.html
-
From: The Ratchasi on 25th August 2012 03:16 PM [Full View]
Originally Posted by Dilbert
