Judge Weighs Release of Writings in Rutgers Suicide Case
Monday, Oct 17, 2011 | Updated 8:11 AM EDT
Rutgers student Tyler Clementi committed suicide after being bullied for being gay.
A New Jersey judge is expected to rule this week on whether defense lawyers should see writings by a Rutgers student who committed suicide last year after his roommate allegedly used a webcam to spy on his intimate encounter with another man.
The roommate, Dharun Ravi, a 19-year-old former Rutgers student, is charged with crimes including bias intimidation.
His lawyer, Steven Altman, wants prosecutors to hand over information including a hand-written note from Tyler Clementi and files from his computer.
Altman says it could show Clementi's state of mind and be helpful to Ravi's defense.
But prosecutors say the material isn't relevant.
Judge Glenn Berman has said he would review the information in his chambers. He may rule at a hearing scheduled for Thursday.
