Associated Press reports:
A judge in New Jersey won’t dismiss charges against a former Rutgers University student accused of using a webcam to spy on his roommate’s intimate encounter with another man.
The judge ruled on Friday that prosecutors provided adequate evidence to a grand jury for 19-year-old Dharun Ravi to be accused of invading his roommate’s privacy, bias intimidation and trying to cover up the alleged crimes.
Read more on SFgate.com.
Nicole Weisensee Egan of People adds some details, reporting:
Defense attorney Steven Altman also asked the judge to make the prosecution give them the name of “M.B.,” the man Clementi was with when Ravi allegedly spied on them; turn over Clementi’s laptop to them; and release police reports about Clementi’s suicide. The judge said the prosecution has to give Altman the name and birth date of “M.B.” but issued a protective order saying Altman cannot release the information to anyone but his client or investigator.
“I recognize “M.B.” has limited knowledge about this case. … I’m balancing his right to privacy with Mr. Ravi’s right to defend himself,” the judge said.
Saying he had “serious doubts” about the relevance of Altman’s request for Clementi’s computer and the police reports about his suicide, the judge nonetheless said the prosecution must provide them to him to inspect before he rules. He then scheduled another hearing for Oct. 20 where he will rule on whether Altman will get those documents, if he has not ruled before then.