Ex-Nets star offers condolences to family of dead limo driver

The AssociatedPress

FLEMINGTON, N.J. -- Former NBA star Jayson Williams offered "heartfelt condolences" Monday to the family of a limousine driver who he is accused of killing with a shotgun blast at his rural estate.

The former New Jersey Net spoke briefly before leaving the Hunterdon County courthouse, where he appeared for a five-minute hearing on the case. Williams is charged with second-degree manslaughter in the Feb. 14 shooting death of Costas Christofi.

"Me and my wife would like to send out our heartfelt condolences to Mr. Christofi's family," Williams said. He declined to comment on the case, saying his lawyer advised him not to.

Williams, 34, did not enter a plea. He is not required to do so until a grand jury hands down an indictment.

During the court appearance, Superior Court Judge Ann Bartlett told Williams what his rights were. Williams did not speak; his lawyer, Joseph Hayden, said they had received a copy of the charges and the hearing ended.

Christofi's neighbor and longtime friend, Joseph Armstrong, attended the hearing, saying afterward he was pleased to hear Williams address the family.

"It's just the right thing to do," Armstrong said. "I just want to make sure it stays focused on who the victim was and what happened. It's a tragedy for everyone."

Christofi, 55, of Washington Borough, was hired to drive Williams' friends from a Harlem Globetrotters show in Bethlehem, Pa., to a restaurant, and then to Williams' estate 30 miles northwest of Trenton.

Invited inside

The limousine driver, described by many as a sports fan, was apparently invited inside for a tour of the 40-room mansion, Acting Hunterdon County Prosecutor Steven C. Lember said.

Lember has said the shooting occurred less than an hour after the group arrived at Williams' home. The 911 call came in at 2:54 a.m.

Since then, many questions have surrounded Christofi's death, which prosecutors say was first reported as a suicide by Williams' brother.

Neither the prosecution nor the defense has described the events leading up to the shooting or named those inside the mansion at the time.

"That information will undoubtedly become available should this come to a trial," Lember said after Monday's hearing.

Not including Williams and Christofi, a dozen other people were at the house, Lember said. They included Williams' brother, four Globetrotters and two children.

The prosecutor has said there were reasons to believe that alcohol "is something we need to look into," but will not say whether Williams was drinking before the shooting.