Tyler Clementi: Molly Wei's Lawyers Say She's Innocent

By: Kevin Hayes
Topics: Daily Blotter

Tyler Clementi (Personal Photo)

NEWARK, N.J. (CBS/AP) While prosecutors weigh additional charges against two Rutgers University students accused of broadcasting live images of fellow freshman Tyler Clementi in a gay sexual encounter, attorneys for Molly Wei, one of accused, say their client is innocent.

PICTURES: Tyler Clementi

Wei's attorneys said in a statement Tuesday that she is "a wonderful, caring and talented young woman with a bright future." They claim that she has been maligned by unfounded attacks on her character.

After the online broadcast, Clementi jumped off the George Washington Bridge to his death.

Dharun Ravi, Clementi's roommate, was charged along with Wei 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.

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 Sept. 19 and that Ravi tried to webcast a second encounter on Sept. 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.

Under New Jersey's privacy law it is a crime to transmit or even view images that depict nudity or sexual contact with an individual without that person's consent, reports WCBS. Collecting or viewing sexual images without consent is a fourth-degree crime. Transmitting them is a third-degree crime with a maximum prison sentence of five years.

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

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by templescroll October 8, 2010 3:11 AM EDT: It is unlikely that this is the first time Ravi pulled this kind of 'stunt'. Molly Wei knew Ravi since Middle School according to reports. Wasn't she aware that Ravi was a spoiled, insensitive, self-serving jerk?! Wasn't she aware of this type of behavior for years? And in fact, was she not condoning it by continuing to be his friend? Wei was the one 'friend' that Ravi knew would tolerate his antics so he felt comfortable enough to 'use' Wei and her computer to further his sick agenda...he knew she wouldn't try to stop him. Friends don't let friends bully...Ravi probably even bullied Wei! Bullies aren't born they are created. Wei, Ravi's parents and others fed this behavior. Many of the bullies I have had the displeasure of knowing, were two faced and very good at 'playing nice' ( gregarious, out going, polite, friendly) a cover that gives them carte blanche to behave badly because nobody will take notice...or believe it!; Reply to this comment


by the_piano_man October 6, 2010 12:14 PM EDT: Regardless of the guilt or innocence of the two accused students as charged, it has become clear that many people, including the accused, do not even realize what "bullying" actually is, or they refuse to admit that it exists. As common human decency, we must respect other's personal boundaries. The fact that students are living in a dorm does not mean they must remove all their boundaries and have no privacy . . . unless of course they were never taught, by example, that they have a right to personal boundaries and that others also, equally, have that right and that those boundaries must be respected. Look to the parents on this one. What did you teach your children, anyway? Or, better yet, what did you fail to teach your children?; Reply to this comment


by maccount October 6, 2010 11:18 AM EDT: A "prank" - this was no "prank", it was done to hurt Tyler! Everyone of us hide something in our lifes we don't want others to know - it's called privacy! These young people wanted the world to know who Tyler really was - it was done intentially! Did they stop and think and/or had a concious of what effect it might have on Tyler's reputation if he had not committed suicide? They didn't care because they had no idea how far their "prank" would had gone! That's whats wrong with "pranks" - you never know how far it can go!

I'm sure they are wishing right now that if they can take it all back, they would! Tyler took his own life for other reasons other then what these young individuals did, but they gave Tyler the push he needed to commit suicide which might have already been in his mind a long time ago BEFORE this tragic happened! When a person is thinking of suicide, it takes a while to think about it - this way of thinking didn't happen right on the spot when these young people played out their "prank"! He had to have been thinking about it for a while - this "prank" just drove him over the ledge!

I don't blame these young people for the death of Tyler - he took his own life and that wasn't their fault, but they're GUILTY of invading Tyler's privacy! It's none of your business - you just don't go there, but you did and look what happened! It's a shame either way you look at it - these are young adults and they have alot to learn about life! May you RIP Tyler and hope you're in a better world with God!; Reply to this comment

by annak123 October 5, 2010 8:50 PM EDT

For those of you wanting to lynch Molly Wei (and lynching is the correct word), exactly where is your evidence outside of what the media has given you? Your hearts are as poisoned with the bias you claim that she has. Until we know what really happened, and not the selective judgement by the media and lobby groups, it is arrogant of anyone to comment. And in this, I support her lawyers. She is, by the law, innocent until proven guilty. If the evidence is there, let the courts decide her fate. Until then, I think a few people need to take a good look at themselves. Seems that no one needs to do any exercise here with all the jumping to conclusions that is being done. So very sad for a fair and free US.

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by bbmcrae October 14, 2010 9:26 AM EDT: What are you babbling about? She did it. She is hiding that she did it. You're acting like people are jumping to conclusions. The only question now is, was what she did illegal? It was certainly immoral. Really, you either have no idea what you're talking about or you're strangely obsessed with defending her. Try an actual argument next time. Btw, this isn't a court room. It's a comments board. Look around.


by starletter October 5, 2010 6:52 PM EDT: My heart goes out to the many families and friends of this young man. I have heard many many comments concerning what happened to Tyler, and many of those comments are really not neccessary. I'm a mother of three and I don't know what I would do if something happened to my child, no real mother or father would, and I would "NEVER" condone my children doing something like this that could and would affect another family. Many people speak as if these were children, they are not and i'm sure that they didn't expect something like this to happen because of their "Prank", but it did......and now they need to own up to what has happened. I'm sure that if this had happened to them, their families would want justice for their child. They were wrong, the school has a policy concerning this, and they need to be punished. You are guilty and there's nothing that your lawyer, who i'm sure your paying a great deal of money too, can say, you are not innocent. What were you two thinking??? This is something that will stay with you for the rest of your life...Karma will come back to bite you in the #ss.; Reply to this comment


by thomasmc1957 October 5, 2010 6:50 PM EDT: Innocent of having a conscience, perhaps.; Reply to this comment


by sgreco1970 October 5, 2010 6:16 PM EDT: SHE IS GUILTY OF BREAKING "STEPHANIE'S LAW"; Reply to this comment

by lin1945-2009 October 5, 2010 6:02 PM EDT

"Wei's attorneys said in a statement Tuesday that she is "a wonderful, caring and talented young woman with a bright future." They claim that she has been maligned by unfounded attacks on her character." Are the attorneys delusional? She offered or lent her computer, she was there by all accounts, she partnered with her good buddy, Ravi, and the two of them, without thought for a young man's reputation, honor, trust, etc. posted for others to view a stream that was private, illegally gotten and shared. Molly Wei was there, she participated when she allowed Ravi to use her computer and stream the video. Get off the "wonderful, caring and talented young woman with a bright future" blurb . . . Molly is going to stand trial, likely be convicted, likely sentenced to jail or prison depending on amount of time given and her future, she will forevermore be linked to the tragic death of Tyler and the reasons.

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by sgreco1970 October 5, 2010 6:17 PM EDT: Tyler was wonderful, caring and had a bright future until he too had his character maligned. She should think of that.


by OmegaWolf747 October 6, 2010 6:35 PM EDT: Maybe she didn't know what Ravi was going to use her computer for.

by David_888 October 5, 2010 5:11 PM EDT

There is exactly zero proof that the transmission of the sexual encounter CAUSED the man to take his own life. It cannot be proved and will not be proved. The only proof they have is that an invasion of privacy occured. That's it. Period.

Beyond that is simply speculation with a heavy dose of bias. In today's PC climate, where homosexual behavior is routinely trying to be "normalized", there is an over compensation towards some sort of "hate" crime. It is extremely doubtful these two stealth videographers had any intention of causing anybody's death. They pulled a prank. The gay kid commits suicide. There is no link in these two events. Period.

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by lin1945-2009 October 5, 2010 6:17 PM EDT: Are you human?


by osmom October 5, 2010 6:17 PM EDT: @ David "They pulled a prank." I would not consider this a prank. To video tape someone who is expecting privacy and then stream it for others to see is a cruel act. I can only hope these two students receive the harshest sentence for this act.


by pavel_123456 October 5, 2010 6:49 PM EDT: David's speaking legally, I think. Morally, the two on trial did a very bad thing. Legally, it's impossible to prove the state of mind of the victim, and therefore impossible to prove that their actions are what caused his suicide. Callous though it may sound, there's no way for a prosecutor to prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that the young man would not have killed himself that day if they hadn't streamed the video.


by cey2008 October 6, 2010 12:44 AM EDT: Are you serious what they did what cruel and hurtful. NO ONE has the right to tape ANYONE having sex never mind putting it on the internet. It doesn't matter what anyone says it is their fault that he killed himself and they should have to live with that guilt for the rest of their lives. I don't know what type of person could do that to another person how would they it if they were taped having sex with each other or someone else how they would take it was then put on to the internet.


by the_piano_man October 6, 2010 12:31 PM EDT: David, in a court of law you demonstrate guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. . . that's reasonable doubt ok, not a mathematical proof. It is indeed possible, with evidence and testimony obtained under oath (not from the media or on the internet), to show beyond a reasonable doubt that their actions did indeed cause the young man to end his life, and this will likely be discussed by a jury who's members will discuss all the evidence and testimony. Our legal system does not function like arithmetic and counting numbers where 1 plus 1 always equals 2. Its beyond a reasonable doubt. Even an eye witness's brain cannot be scanned for the absolute truth.


by x0xBrookersx0x October 5, 2010 4:55 PM EDT: I hope they both get 5 years. They had no right to do that. And ultimately it is their fault this boy killed himself. If they wouldn't have been such inconsiderate lowlifes to record him and then POST the video for other people to see i bet Tyler Clementi would still be alive. Who cares if he was gay, that girl is Asian and that guy is Indian(i think that's right) maybe people should go ridicule them for their race...they ridiculed him for being gay.

Sh!!t like this really p!$$es me off.

RIP Tyler, i'm sure you were a great guy.; Reply to this comment