Witnesses testify Ravi had not expressed homophobic tendencies
The trial against Dharun Ravi in association with the suicide of Tyler Clementi continued Friday with the testimonials of seven of Ravi’s family friends, each who claimed that Ravi had no known bias against homosexuality.
In a series of cross-examinations, all seven witnesses claimed to have close personal relationships with Ravi through family ties, and did not recall Ravi expressing anything that could be considered homophobic.
“I’ve seen him grow up right in front of my eyes,” said Anil Kappa, who became friends with Ravi’s family after befriending his father through work. “Dharun is like a kid brother to me.”
Kappa said he does not believe Ravi has a negative attitude toward homosexuals.
Yet prosecutor Julia McClure’s cross-examination revealed that none of the witnesses had ever discussed homosexuality with Ravi.
“[We] never spoke about it,” said Ramkumar Pandurangan, who has known Ravi for eight years.
Frank DiNinno, an investigator from the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office, spoke about methods of interviewing several witnesses associated with the Clementi trial.
DiNinno’s testimony will resume Monday morning and it is unclear whether Ravi will testify next week. The trial is expected to last two or three more weeks.
