A New Jersey judge overseeing the case of an Indian-origin student, accused of spying on his gay roommate who later committed suicide, has asked lawyers to present opening statements today, even as jury selection was being completed for the trial. Dharun Ravi is charged in a 15-count indictment with bias intimidation, invasion of privacy and hindering apprehension for using a web cam to spy on his roommate Tyler Clementi's sexual encounter with another man.

Clementi committed suicide in September 2010 by jumping from the George Washington bridge near here, a few days after Ravi wrote about the sexual encounter on microblogging site Twitter. Ravi, 19, has pleaded not guilty and rejected a plea deal under which he would have avoided jail term but would have had to perform 600 hours of community service and receive counseling.

Ravi, who has not been charged with Clementi's death, has insisted that he meant no harm when he spied on his roommate and cannot be blamed for his death.The Indian student faces up to 10 years in state prison if convicted.The trial will be broadcast live across the country and could even be viewed in India.

Judge Glenn Berman told lawyers yesterday that they should be prepared to begin their opening statements today. He narrowed down the jury pool for the trial after reviewing answers from the prospective jury members'questionnaires yesterday. The judge eliminated about 100 members from the pool and by yesterday afternoon, 85 potential jurors for the trial remained.

Finally, the pool will be narrowed down to 12 people and at least two alternates to form the jury. The judge also amended and upgraded one of the lesser charges in the case - hindering apprehension - to a second-degree crime from a third-degree one. Berman denied a defense motion to dismiss the charge altogether. The second-degree hindering charge comes with a possible prison term, while a third-degree does not. Berman said if Ravi is found guilty of the hindering apprehension crime, he could still view that charge as a 3rd-degree crime and may not sentence him for that.

Middlesex County First Assistant Prosecutor Julia McClure McClure told the judge she plans to bring 23 witnesses to the stand during the trial that may last for about a month.