Dharun Ravi declines to testify in Tyler Clementi webcam trial
A memorial to Tyler Clementi at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, N.J., on Oct. 1, 2010.
Former Rutgers University student Dharun Ravi, accused of using a webcam to spy on his roommate, Tyler Clementi, having sex with another man before Clementi committed suicide, declined to explain himself to the jury today, the New York Times reported.
Ravi told Judge Glenn Berman that he would not take the stand and said it was his own decision not to testify, the Christian Science Monitor reported.
The defense then rested its case, the New York Times reported. Lawyers will make their summary statements in the trial on Tuesday.
Ravi faces 15 criminal counts, including invasion of privacy and charges related to the steps he took to cover his tracks after Clementi complained to school officials, the Christian Science Monitor reported. The most serious charge he faces is bias intimidation, which is considered a hate crime in New Jersey, according to the Christian Science Monitor.
More from GlobalPost: Tyler Clementi suicide: Trial of his roommate Dharun Ravi began today
Testimony in Ravi’s trial lasted more than 12 days, and about 30 witnesses spoke, including college students and the other man in the streamed video, called “M.B.” to protect his identity, the Christian Science Monitor reported.
Ravi’s lawyers attempted to prove he is not biased against gay people and claimed he set up his webcam to guard over his belongings, the New York Times reported.
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