Rutgers Trial: Tyler Clementi’s Date to Testify
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ABC News(NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J.) — What could be the most dramatic moment in the trial of Rutgers student Dharun Ravi is expected Thursday with the testimony of the man who was seen on a webcam kissing Tyler Clementi.
The man, known only as M.B. in court documents, will be called by the prosecution to tell the court what happened during two dates he had with Clementi in September 2010, during which Ravi allegedly spied on the pair and invited others to watch. Clementi, an 18-year-old freshman, killed himself by jumping off the George Washington Bridge days later.
The court will continue to hide M.B.’s identity from the public by not showing his face on camera or disclosing his full name, though anyone in court will be able to see him. Cameras will be restricted to M.B.’s hands and the audio on cameras will be ordered shut off.
M.B. is expected to testify about the events of Sept. 19, and Sept. 21, when he accompanied Clementi to his dorm room for a romantic encounter.
The pair met on the online gay dating service Adam4Adam, according to court documents.
Ravi, 20, is accused of activating a webcam that spied on the pair during their Sept. 19 date, and setting up his camera to once again view the pair on Sept. 21. He is charged with invasion of privacy, bias intimidation, witness tampering and hindering arrest.
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