NEWARK, N.J. (AP) – A New Jersey appeals court has thrown out the 15-count conviction of a former Rutgers University student whose roommate killed himself after being captured on a webcam kissing another man.

The court tossed several bias intimidation counts against Dharun Ravi because of a change in state law. It ordered a new trial on the other counts and said the bias evidence tainted the jury’s verdict.

The death of 18-year-old Tyler Clementi in 2010 started a national conversation about the treatment of young gays.

Ravi faced up to 10 years in prison but was sentenced to probation plus 30 days in county jail.

Prosecutors had argued the sentencing judge overstepped his authority by imposing a sentence that was too lenient. Friday’s ruling rendered that argument moot.