But affiliates maintained a large presence in the courtroom Friday, with Pring-Wilson’s classmates and professors present to show their support.

Abigail C. Lackman ’03, who is in a class with Pring-Wilson and has known him for two years, estimated that 30 to 40 supporters from Harvard were present.

Lackman said her entire five-person Serbo-Croatian class—scheduled to meet during Friday’s hearing—went to court instead.

During the hearing most looked on solemnly, but afterwards many cried and embraced.

Lackman said she was particularly upset by Lynch’s suggestion that Pring-Wilson posed a flight risk because of his ability to speak multiple languages.

“I feel that the decision was political. The fact that he speaks several languages has no bearing on whether he’s going to obey the law,” Lackman said.

Meanwhile, Colono’s friends and family also packed the courtroom, and let out loud cheers when the judged denied Pring-Wilson’s bail.

One person was thrown out of the courtroom before the hearing even began, when he uttered an expletive at Pring-Wilson as the defendant entered the courtroom in handcuffs and shackles.

Colono was raised and attended school in Cambridge, and worked at a local Days Inn. He leaves a three-year-old daughter, who is being raised by her mother.

Pring-Wilson, a Colorado native, planned to receive his Master’s degree this spring, and then return to Colorado for law school.

His family and fiancée flew in from Colorado to attend yesterday’s hearing.

—Hera A. Abbasi and Andrew M. Sadowski contributed to the reporting of this story.

—Staff writer Jenifer L. Steinhardt can be reached at steinhar@fas.harvard.edu.