Lawyer: Dharun Ravi apologized for filming Tyler Clementi

NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J., Aug. 12 (UPI) -- The New Jersey grand jury that charged a college student with recording his roommate caressing another man was given incomplete information, lawyers said.

Dharun Ravi's defense team asked a judge in Middlesex County to dismiss charges against him, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported Thursday. Ravi, 19, a Plainsboro, N.J., resident and former student at Rutgers University, is charged with bias intimidation and invasion of privacy.

Among the evidence Ravi's lawyers cited was an apology Ravi texted to his roommate, Tyler Clementi, Sept. 22, 2010. Ravi sent the message around the time Clementi took his own life by jumping from the George Washington Bridge.

"I'm sorry if you heard something distorted and disturbing, but I assure you all my actions were good-natured," Ravi said.

The lawyers, in a 700-page brief, argued Ravi did not deliberately broadcast a video of the sexual encounter, although it was picked up by iChat. They cited an e-mail Clementi sent describing Ravi's actions as "not so bad."

Clementi might have had other reasons for killing himself, the lawyers said. They cited evidence he was upset after telling his parents he was gay.