Tyler Clementi Suicide: Additional charges possible for Rutgers students

NEW YORK - New Jersey prosecutors are contemplating whether to file more charges against the two Rutgers University freshmen, one of them of Indian origin, who have been accused of broadcasting on the Internet video the fact that fellow freshman Tyler Clementi was having sex with another man.

Dharun Ravi, Clementi’s roommate, and Molly Wei, were each charged with two counts of invasion of privacy last week.

The state’s Attorney General, Paula Dow, said investigators were exploring adding hate crime charges; however, the current New Jersey law may not adequately address the circumstances behind Clementi’s death, according to CBS station WCBS.

“Most importantly, I think we’re looking at examining the facts,” ow said

Middlesex County prosecutors say the pair, both 18, used a webcam to secretly transmit a live image of Clementi having sex with a man on September 19 and that Ravi tried to webcast a second encounter on September 21, the day before Clementi’s suicide.

“I’m unaware of any case in New Jersey where the homicide statutes have been used to hold somebody responsible for somebody else who chose to commit suicide,” Middlesex Prosecutor Bruce Kaplan said.

Kaplan said he would rather be “right” than “expedient” when asked whether there would be a specific timeline for bringing additional charges.

Both Ravi and Wei could face up to five years in prison if convicted.

Students at the Rutgers Newark campus remembered Clementi, an exceptional violinist, with a candlelight vigil Sunday. (ANI)