Jayson Williams

[SuckaInA3Piece]

Ok, I decided too start a thread on this dude cause I think this story is interesting. I'm not sure if the bastard is guilty or not, but it sure looks that way as the days go by. If he tried too cover this thing up as all signs have indicated, I believe he should be locked up forever for this crime. I'm so tired of ppl with money gettin away with murder. Anywho, what are your thoughts if you have followed this case. Here are the lastest developments courtesy of ESPN.com:

Associated Press
SOMERVILLE, N.J. -- A state judge on Tuesday denied a request by Jayson Williams' defense team to have the jury in his manslaughter trial visit the mansion of the retired NBA star.


Superior Court Judge Edward M. Coleman also refused a defense motion to acquit the defendant of all charges, ruling that there was sufficient evidence to go forward and that it would be up to the jury to determine its credibility.


In addition, the judge refused to separate eight charges into those dealing with the shooting of a chauffeur in Williams' bedroom and four others dealing with an alleged cover-up.


Coleman granted prosecution motions to exclude some parts of late reports by three defense experts, saying they covered new material and were an unfair surprise.


The judge said he would allow the defense to show the jury most of a three-minute animated presentation to illustrate how a shotgun mechanism works, and how debris might have caused a misfire. But the judge said he will not allow the part that the prosecution most objected to, where a wood chip floats into the mechanism, to be shown.


Coleman's rulings were made without the jury present. Jurors are to return Wednesday for the first defense witnesses.


Prosecutors argued last week that there was no need for the jury to see the bedroom where limousine driver Costas "Gus" Christofi was shot to death by a gun held by the retired NBA star.


Assistant Prosecutor Katharine Errickson said the jury already had the assistance of more than 100 photos and a videotape that were introduced during six weeks of testimony by prosecution witnesses.


Defense lawyer Joseph A. Hayden said a tour would help the jury understand the sightlines, angles and distances, particularly in the bedroom, where Christofi was shot in the early hours of Feb. 14, 2002, while Williams was showing friends his mansion.


The defense maintains that the shooting was an accident and that the shotgun Williams was holding may have malfunctioned.


Defense lawyers had argued that charge of aggravated manslaughter should be dismissed because Williams did not realize Christofi was near him, and thus did not know that death was a probable outcome of his actions.


First Assistant Hunterdon County Prosecutor Steven C. Lember disputed that, noting that several witnesses testified that Williams turned and faced Christofi before cursing at the driver and snapping a shotgun closed while holding it in one hand.


Williams, 36, is also charged with altering evidence and persuading his houseguests to lie by saying they were downstairs when Christofi shot himself.


The eight charges carry penalties of up to 55 years in prison. The least of the charges carries a penalty of up to 18 months in prison, but would likely result in probation.


Williams had gone with some friends to see a Harlem Globetrotters game in Bethlehem, Pa. Christofi had driven four Globetrotters from the game to a restaurant near the Williams estate for dinner with Williams and most of the group. They then went to the mansion in Alexandria Township.


Williams retired as center of the New Jersey Nets in 2000 after a decade in the NBA, unable to overcome a broken leg suffered a year earlier in a collision with a teammate. He was suspended from his job as an NBA analyst for NBC after the shooting.

[wip5150]

No matter what REALLY happened, this is a very sad story for all involved. But, on a positive note, looks like the Harlem Globetrotters got some pub.

[SuckaInA3Piece]

LOL good one [img]images/smilies/icon_thumb.gif[/img] I think the man is going down. It is very sad, but I believe that he did the shit. I dont think he'll get murder, but manslaughter is very possible. I think he's lookin at a good ten years for sure.

[wip5150]

I think you're right sucka. This time next year, Jayson Williams will be in the Crossbar Hilton.

[SuckaInA3Piece]

Associated Press
SOMERVILLE, N.J. -- Jurors in Jayson Williams' manslaughter trial told the judge Thursday they are in agreement on six of the eight charges against Williams and are split on two others. The judge told them to keep trying.


The development came on the afternoon of the second full day of deliberations in the case of the retired NBA star.


"Let me indicate to you that we are going to ask you to continue in your deliberations," Superior Court Judge Edward M. Coleman told the panel.


It was not specified which counts were still being debated.


Among the charges Williams faces are aggravated manslaughter, the most serious with a potential sentence of 30 years; reckless manslaughter; assault; a weapons violation; and tampering with witnesses. The charges stem from the Feb. 14, 2002, killing of limousine service driver Costas "Gus" Christofi at Williams' mansion.


The note explaining the split was the sixth the jury had sent from the room where it had already spent over 15 hours considering the charges. Of the five notes sent on Tuesday and Wednesday, none focused on the top charge.


On Wednesday, jurors had testimony read back about what Williams said and did just after the shooting.


The panel also heard again about who allegedly told houseguests to lie to police about where they were when the shotgun Williams was handling went off in his bedroom.


Defense attorneys have argued the shooting was an accident and that a malfunction in the gun's firing mechanism caused the weapon to go off. Prosecutors contend Williams was handling the shotgun so recklessly that it amounted to a crime.


In all, the eight charges carry up to 55 years in prison.


The shooting happened as the former New Jersey Nets player gave a tour of his mansion to friends and members of the Harlem Globetrotters.


To convict Williams, 36, on the manslaughter charge, the jury must unanimously find that he recklessly caused Christofi's death ``under circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to human life.''


Williams is also charged with trying to make the shooting look like a suicide by wiping down the shotgun and putting Christofi's hands on the gun. Prosecutors said he instructed his guests to lie to authorities.

[SuckaInA3Piece]

Associated Press
SOMERVILLE, N.J. -- Former NBA star Jayson Williams was acquitted Friday of the most serious charge against him, aggravated manslaughter. The jury said it could not agree on the charge of reckless manslaughter.


Williams, 36, was found guilty on four of the six lesser charges, related to tampering with evidence and attempting to cover up the shooting.


Collectively, the charges carry a maximum penalty of 13 years in prison.


Charges Jayson Williams faced
(max prison sentences and verdict)
Aggravated manslaughter (30 years) -- Not guilty
Reckless manslaughter (10 years) -- No decision
Possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose (10 years) -- Not guilty
Aggravated assault (18 months) -- Not guilty
Hindering apprehension (5 years) -- Guilty
Tampering with witnesses (5 years) -- Guilty
Tampering with evidence (18 months) -- Guilty
Fabricating physical evidence (18 months) -- Guilty




But Williams would probably receive a sentence of less than five years, the maximum for the most serious count. No date was set for sentencing. A scheduling conference to determine a trial date on the remaining count, reckless manslaughter, was set for May 21.


The jurors had deliberated for almost 23 hours when Juror No. 5 sent the judge a note shortly after 3 p.m. Its contents were not disclosed. In response, the judge asked the jurors to return to the deliberation room and send him another note explaining whether they believed it was worthwhile to continue deliberations.


The jurors quickly sent a note back saying they could only reach a partial verdict.


The jury said Thursday that it had reached a decision on six of the charges, but could not agree on two others.


The jury then requested to rehear testimony from three of the witnesses against the retired NBA star. The readbacks began shortly after 9 a.m. Friday, the fourth day of deliberations for the eight women and four men who have sat since Feb. 10 on the case, which stems from the shooting of a hired driver, Costas "Gus" Christofi.


Williams could have faced up to 55 years in prison if convicted on all counts.