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Thursday, March 22, 2012

Ravi: "I didn't act out of hate" - NorthJersey.com

Ravi: "I didn't act out of hate" - NorthJersey.com:


Ravi: "I didn't act out of hate"

THURSDAY MARCH 22, 2012, 6:36 AM
NORTHJERSEY.COM
Dharun Ravi acknowledged in an interview Wednesday with The Star-Ledger's Mark Di Ionno that he acted immaturely when he used a webcam to spy on his Rutgers roommate, Tyler Clementi, setting off a chain of events that, in the aftermath of Clementi's suicide, ended with Ravi's conviction last week on 15 criminal counts, including a bias intimidation charge.
Defense attorney Steven Altman, left,  Dharun Ravi, center, and defense attorney Philip Nettl prepare to exit the courtroom following the verdict in Ravi's trial at Middlesex County Court in New Brunswick on Friday, March 16, 2012.
ELIZABETH LARA / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Defense attorney Steven Altman, left, Dharun Ravi, center, and defense attorney Philip Nettl prepare to exit the courtroom following the verdict in Ravi's trial at Middlesex County Court in New Brunswick on Friday, March 16, 2012.
"But I wasn't biased," Ravi said. "I didn't act out of hate, and I wasn't uncomfortable with Tyler being gay."
Rather, his issue was with Clementi's guest, a 30-year-old man identified in court only as "M.B." When police first sought out Ravi when Clementi was missing, he said he feared "it had something to do with M.B."
Ravi said he did not regret turning down a plea de