So much is wrong with this world today.
Deliberations began a few days ago in the Rutgers trial, Dharun Ravi is on trial on a 15 count indictment for allegedly spying on and intimidating his room mate, Tyler Clementi who jumped off the Ben Franklin bridge. If convicted on all counts after the more than two week trial, Ravi could be sentenced to 10 years in prison.
Prosecutors offered Ravi a plea deal that would have let him avoid jail time in exchange for 600 hours of community service and counseling. Prosecutors also offered to help Ravi avoid deportation, though they said they could not guarantee it. Ravi is a citizen of india who had been studying on a visa at Rutgers University.
Molly Wei was another student that confessed to joining Ravi watch a surreptitious webcam encounter involving Clementi and another man in September 2010. Wei reached a plea deal in May 2011 that required her to testify against her friend and former high school classmate, as well as to complete a three year program on cyber bullying and do 300 hours of community service.
I have a question though, this came up in my criminal justice class a few weeks ago, if this Ravi fellow is convicted he will most likely have to serve the entire 10 year prison sentence, where as he could have pled guilty and received no prison time.
The question is: is there an extra penalty for those that invoke their right to a trial?
Ravi denied his plea agreement, and if found guilty he will be in prison for the next 10 years. I will update once there is a verdict and I will give my opinion of that question once I get some feedback!
Jesus, that's so messed up. I feel that though Ravi should get more even if he did give up his right and testified. I dunno, it might be I think of justice way too much,
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