Pro-Ravi webcam witnesses: Ex-Rutgers student never talked about homosexuality

(CBS/AP) NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. - Seven men took the stand Friday as character witnesses for former Rutgers University student Dharun Ravi, and all said that they never heard Ravi say anything negative about gays - but they also never discussed it with him.

Pictures: Tyler ClementiPictures: Rutgers Spycam Trial

Ravi is on trial on 15 counts including bias intimidation and invasion of privacy for using a webcam to spy on his roommate Tyler Clementi's intimate encounter with another man in September 2010.

Clementi, committed suicide days after the alleged spying.

Prosecutors say Ravi used Twitter, instant messages and texts to tell friends about what he saw.

Most of the men called by defense lawyers were software engineers and current or former business associates of Ravi's father. All of them said they had never known Ravi to express any anti-gay views.

But on cross-examination, they all said they had never discussed the issue with him. The men, all of whom appeared to be middle aged, also said they did not follow Ravi on Twitter or exchange text or instant messages with him.

The seven men testified in a total of about one hour. Their brief appearances on the witness stand were a contrast to the prosecutor's case, in which nearly two dozen witnesses were called over 10 days.

Complete coverage of Tyler Clementi and the Dharun Ravi trial on Crimesider