Dharun Ravi trial: MB testifies having sexual relations with Tyler
March 03, 2012 10:21
A mystery man known only as MB testified that he had sexual relations with a student in Rutgers university dorm room on the two nights they allegedly were spied on by Indian-American student Dharun Ravi.
The student Tyler Clementi jumped off the George Washington Bridge after discovering that his roommate, Ravi had been allegedly attempting to record his sexual encounter with another man in Sep 2010.
Ravi was charged with bias intimidation as a hate crime, along with invasion of privacy and hindering apprehension. He is not being charged in connection with Clementi’s death.
Testifying for the prosecution in New Brunswick, New Jersey superior court, M.B. said he noticed the camera on a computer pointed toward the bed the first time he had sexual relations with Clementi on Sep. 19.
M.B. said the webcam was not there on Sep. 21, the second, and last, time they had sexual relations.
“While we were intimate on the bed, I glanced over my shoulder and noticed the webcam facing toward the bed, which I thought was kind of strange,” M.B. said. “Being in a compromising position, it seemed kind of strange.”
M.B. testified that the camera that he described as shaped like “a business card” was not there the last time he saw Clementi on Sep 21.
M.B. who appeared to be in his late 20s or early 30s with full, but short, black hair told of how he first came into contact with Clementi via a gay website, Adam4Adam, before they set up their first meeting via text messages and online messages at Clementi’s dorm room on Thursday, Sep 16.
Ravi’s attorney, Steven Altman, cross examined M.B. for about 90 minutes asking questions concerning messages and plans exchanged between M.B. and Clementi, particularly from Sep 16, when the two first met, until Sep 21, their last meeting.
In particular, Altman wanted to know why the two did not meet in person until Sunday, Sep 19, after their first meeting on Sep 16.
M.B. said Clementi had trouble contacting Ravi during that time to ask to have the room to himself for some time. M.B. vaguely recalled being busy or having to work.
“There was discussion about meeting again,” M.B. said regarding correspondence he had with Clementi after their first meeting “We wanted to see each other every single day. We had a good relationship.”