Molly Wei's lawyers say her reputation was 'unjustly tarnished' by Rutgers suicide tragedy

[JI7]

The West Windsor teenager accused of spying on a fellow student in the Rutgers University webcam voyeurism case is innocent and has had her reputation "unjustly tarnished," her attorneys said today.

"This is a tragic situation. But this tragedy has also unfairly led to rampant speculation and misinformation, which threaten to overwhelm the actual facts of the matter," Wei’s attorneys said in a statement. "Those true facts will reveal that Molly Wei is innocent. Molly committed no crime."

"Molly is a wonderful, caring and talented young woman with a bright future. That future is being threatened by unfounded attacks upon her character," the statement said. "This classic rush to judgment ignores Molly’s basic right to fairness and presumption of innocence. We can only hope, for everyone’s sake, that the truth will not be forever lost in the process.

"Neither Molly nor anyone else should be used to further the agenda of others," the statement continued.

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2010/10/molly_wei_claims_innocence.html

[petronius]

1. I guess lawyers have to do their jobs, no matter how flagrantly untrue

their claims are, or how despicable the client...

[pnwmom]

16. Why do you assume Molly and Tyler's roommate are equally culpable?

We've all seen the roommate's emails (I'd use his name except I can't remember it). He implicates himself, but not Molly. What if all she did was let a friend borrow her computer for a few minutes? Have you seen any evidence that she did more than that?

How common is it for college students to let each other use their computers? To check their email or whatever? Is the owner now criminally responsible for everything the user may do on it? Is that really where we want to go?

[Odin2005]

2. Oh, FUCK HER!

[pnwmom]

10. At first I reacted that way. But then I asked myself:

what do we KNOW about what she actually did? I have seen the email the roommate wrote, about how he set up the cam and then went to her room to watch it. But there was nothing in it to suggest that she planned the scheme, or that she even know what he was doing.

What if all she did was say "okay" when a high-school friend came in and asked to use her computer?

"Molly, can I borrow your computer? Tyler's got a guest in there and I can't get to mine."

"Okay."

Until we learn more, it seems to me that the roommate is the one who planned the "prank" and carried it out.

[Luminous Animal]

3. "Neither Molly nor anyone else should be used to further the agenda of others,"

In other words, "Shut up queers."

[Pithlet]

4. That line got my attention, too.

Screw her.

[pnwmom]

11. What did she do, exactly? Do you have some inside information?

The roommate didn't mention her having helped in his "prank." What if all she did was say okay when he asked to borrow her laptop?

[The Traveler]

8. I actually agree with that principle

However, it sure sounds like Molly used that poor kid to further HER egotistical agenda. Let the facts of her participation in this shameful act come to light in court. And if she is in the wrong, as appears likely, then let her bear the full weight of the consequences.

Trav

[pnwmom]

19. Have you read something I haven't? All I've seen is that she let

an old friend borrow her computer. Tyler's roommate set up the web cam and came into her room and asked to use her computer. Then he used it to remotely control his computer and web cam.

Is she criminally responsible if all she did was say yes to letting him borrow her computer? Or do you know more?

[Bluebear]

22. What is this "old friend" stuff? They're freshmen, how long were they friends?

[LisaL]

23. They went to the same high school.

[Bluebear]

27. Thanks, is she claiming she had no idea what was going on?

Was she not in the room while he was streaming this video? What a horrible situation, eh?

[LisaL]

31. She hasn't said anything as far as I can tell.

[pnwmom]

41. (delete)

[JI7]

33. they are claiming she did nothing "illegal "

[pnwmom]

37. Is lending your computer to a friend illegal? n/t

[pnwmom]

35. I've often been in rooms with people who are on a computer

and I have no idea what they are doing with it. In fact, most of the time when I'm with people who are on laptops, I don't know what they're doing with them. Including when friends or relatives ask to borrow mine. It would seem rude, actually, to look over their shoulder and supervise.

[pnwmom]

42. What the roommate did WAS despicable. But that shouldn't overwhelm

our judgment here.

I, at first, did lump Molly and the roommate together.

But then I realized, we're all assuming that she was as guilty as he was -- based on virtually no evidence. All we know is that she let a friend borrow her computer. If she's like most of us, she didn't hang over her friend's shoulder, supervising his every move. She just let him borrow her computer.

Maybe she did more than that. Maybe she saw the images. Maybe she saw what he was doing and even asked him to stop. But the police haven't released any evidence about the extent of her involvement. Until then, this is just a lot of speculation. And I'm still in favor of that whole "innocent until proven guilty" idea.

:shrug:

[pnwmom]

40. They were high school friends. n/t

[gratuitous]

5. Well golly, Miss Molly

When you drive someone to suicide, you have to expect that your reputation is going to lose a little luster. One of those things you're going to learn in college.

[pnwmom]

12. What did she do exactly? Other than saying yes when an old friend

asked to borrow her computer?

I haven't seen any evidence that she planned the "prank" or even helped carry it out -- except for saying yes to her friend when he asked to borrow her computer. Have you ever let someone borrow your computer for a few minutes? Do you insist on looking over their shoulder and supervising their use?

How do we know what she did exactly? Tyler's roommate implicates himself in his own emails. But he doesn't implicate her, other than mentioning that he used her computer in her room. If she's convicted of anything based on THAT alone, then we all better be a lot more careful when a friend or relative asks to borrow our computers.

[LisaL]

18. I agree with you. We really have seen no evidence

to indicate that she was involved, other than her computer was apparently used.

[pnwmom]

21. It may come out in the future, but hasn't so far.

Tyler's roommates emails make it sound like the whole thing was his idea.

[LisaL]

26. The tweets attributed to Ravi do not appear implicate her, other

than her computer (presumably) was used. We have to wait and see why she was charged.

[JVS]

6. It could be worse.

Someone could be putting a sex video of her on the internet.

[ruggerson]

7. Tyler has no future

the viciousness of this ambulance chaser's statement is appalling.

And his use of the word "agenda" gives him away.

[pnwmom]

43. His use of the loaded word "agenda" is indefensible.

But what is "vicious" about his statement? I haven't seen any evidence that Molly did more than let an old friend from high school sit in her room and borrow her computer. Even the roommate's emails don't mention her doing more than that.

Are we now criminally responsible for everything a friend or relative might do when borrowing our computers?

[JI7]

45. what did he mean by "agenda" ?

[pnwmom]

48. I have no idea, but it's a loaded term that he should never have used. n/t

[JI7]

49. what do you think he meant ?

[pnwmom]

54. I'm assuming he meant that people who are concerned

about gay rights want to make an example out of Molly and the roommate.

But I'm no mind reader.

[JI7]

59. but assuming she didn't know anything was happening it wouldn't apply to her

so it's still odd he would say such a thing

[pnwmom]

61. It was odd and very stupid because it implies that gay people

would take advantage of someone like Molly just to score political or media points.

But, as it is, some people DO seem determined to make an example Molly, guilty or not. From this thread alone, you can see how many people have already judged her guilty. On the basis of practically nothing.

[ThomCat]

9. "To use the agendas of others?"

:wtf:

So the gay community, in standing up for gay teens who have been bullied until they commit suicide, are pursing an agenda against poor Molly Wei?

Oh now I've heard everything!

It's always that damned Gay Agenda isn't it! This has to be one of the most creative ways I've Ever Heard of blaming someone's own despicable actions on the mythical Gay Agenda. :grr:

[Bluebear]

13. So she had nooooo idea what was going on?

OK.

[pnwmom]

24. Have you ever let a friend or relative borrow your computer?

Have you stood over their shoulder and supervised to make sure they weren't doing anything bad?

[JI7]

25. HE said what he was going to do on Twitter

[LisaL]

29. And?

Maybe she doesn't read his tweets as soon as they come out.

[pnwmom]

32. The 2nd time. (And she's not charged with that) Not the first. n/t

[Bluebear]

28. No I haven't

[pnwmom]

34. I bet the vast majority of college students have, when a friend

is visiting. ("Can I check my email?") Or when a friend can't use their own desktop because the roommate has a guest.

[Jamastiene]

14. There goes that damn "agenda" word again.

Because gay people would like to be treated like human beings and have the same rights as everyone else, some asshole like that has to go and blame the gay "agenda." Fuck him. x(

[Bluebear]

20. Thank you.

[pnwmom]

30. That attorney is an idiot. Based on what I've seen, he could make

a reasonable case that Tyler's roommate, and not Molly, was the guilty one. He doesn't add anything to his argument by speaking darkly of agendas.

[WeekendWarrior]

15. I originally condemned her, but

the truth is, we only know what the papers have told us. Although I'm skeptical, she does deserve her day in court.

[pnwmom]

17. That is what happened with me, too. I finally realized that there

has been virtually no evidence put out about her involvement, other than that she apparently let an old high school friend borrow her computer. That doesn't mean she planned the "prank" or otherwise assisted in carrying it out.

[ConsAreLiars]

36. At a minimum, she watched while her computer was being used for a purpose that was

vicious and illegal, and continued to aid and abet that truly depraved and criminal activity. She may have also have actively conspired in setting up the the recording/streaming by the degenerate sociopathic roommate.

[LisaL]

38. I've seen absolutely nothing to suggest she set anything up.

There are no reports of tweets or anything of that nature attributed to her to suggest she knew anything went on.

[ConsAreLiars]

46. They were together in her room using her computer to commit the act.

Tweeting is irrelevant. She was there. She watched. She assisted. She collaborated.

[pnwmom]

53. No. His twitter post said that HE went to her room and HE turned

on his web cam. He didn't saying that SHE did anything -- he didn't say she assisted or even that she watched. All we know she did is let him use her computer. If you know otherwise, prove it. If you can provide a link, I'm open to changing my mind.

[pnwmom]

39. Tyler's roommate's emails didn't say anything about her helping

to set up the recording. In fact, he appeared to take all the credit for setting up the web cams and the recording/streaming.

And how do you know she watched anything? If you lend a friend or relative a computer, do you hang over their shoulder and watch every move?

[ConsAreLiars]

47. That's just silly.

Dorm rooms are not 12 bedroom mansions. She was there, and I doubt she put on a blindfold and covered her ears. Your "defense" of this behavior is as pathetic as her jackass homophobic lawyer's was.

[pnwmom]

50. People squeezed into small dorm rooms do what they can

to maintain privacy. She could have been reading a book or doing her homework and not paying any attention to what he was doing. And where is the evidence of this being an audio recording?

[ConsAreLiars]

56. Sure, try that.

She could have lapsed into a coma and been totally unaware of anything, or was abducted by aliens for the duration, or doing her math homework with an abacus, or writing crib notes on her palm, or taking a piss for the whole time.

[pnwmom]

60. Right. You have no evidence of an audio recording, or you would

have shown it.

So all you can do is repeat your belief that you can't be in a room with someone and not know exactly what they're doing on a laptop. You are either a very nosy person or your life experience is very limited.

[ConsAreLiars]

62. No surprise, neither of you ad hominems is accurate. or even relevant. (nt)

[ConsAreLiars]

63. And you have no evidence that she was not

watching, cheering and masturbating excitedly while yelling "Yes, Jeezuz, we got that queer real good."

I think my guess that she was deeply involved and aware through the whole crime is more likely than your assertion that she was utterly ignorant and unaware. When charges are formalized, we'll both have more evidence.

[pnwmom]

64. Fortunately, in our system of justice it's necessary to prove someone is guilty,

not that someone is innocent.

We'll have SOME additional evidence when charges are made, but I'm withholding judgment until there is actually a trial.

[ConsAreLiars]

57. Dupe deleted

[Beaverhausen]

44. I can't believe the people who are defending her here

Her rich daddy got her a good lawyer and of course he says she did NOTHING wrong. Get a grip.

[pnwmom]

51. I can't believe how often DUers are willing to throw away

the principle of "innocent until proven guilty." Even -- in Molly's case -- in the face of almost no evidence showing actual guilt. All we know is that she let a friend borrow her computer. That's it. Maybe the prosecutor has a lot more evidence, but we haven't seen it yet.

[JI7]

52. i don't think anyone here said they shouldn't have any trial

[pnwmom]

55. The post before mine implies that it is wrong for anyone to defend her.

Even though at this point in time we have seen almost no actual evidence against her.

[pnwmom]

58. I came to the conclusion that the cases against Molly and the roommate

were very different BEFORE I heard anything from Molly's attorney. He didn't sway my opinion. My immediate reaction on the basis of early publicity was that what they both had done was horrible enough to warrant more than 5 years in prison (the maximum sentence). But when I cooled off, I realized that there really was very little evidence out there about Molly -- almost all of it was about the roommate.