Williams acquitted of manslaughter

SOMERVILLE, N.J. -- Former NBA star Jayson Williams was acquitted of manslaughter Friday in the shotgun slaying of a limousine driver at his mansion, but found guilty of trying to cover up the shooting.

Williams, 36, was convicted on four of six lesser charges related to tampering with evidence and trying to cover up the death of Costas "Gus" Christofi, 55, who was killed by a shotgun blast as Williams handled the weapon. Collectively, the charges carry a maximum penalty of 13 years in prison.

But Williams will probably receive a sentence of less than five years, the maximum for the most serious count. No date was set for sentencing.

The jury could not agree on the reckless manslaughter charge. One juror, Shalisha Martin, said the vote was 8-4 in favor of acquittal.

"I think it was an accident," Martin said.

First Assistant Hunterdon County Prosecutor Steven C. Lember said no decision had been made on whether Williams would be tried again on that charge. A scheduling conference to determine a possible trial date was set for May 21.

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

Williams displayed no emotion as he stood with his lawyers. After the verdict was completed, he sat down in his chair, leaned back and kissed his wife, Tanya, who was seated behind him. He remains free on bail.

He did not speak to reporters as he left the courtroom holding hands with his wife.

The defense argued that the shooting was accidental, saying a malfunction in the gun's firing mechanism caused the weapon to fire. Prosecutors contended Williams was handling the shotgun so recklessly that it amounted to a crime.

Anthony Christofi, a nephew of the victim, told Court TV he was disappointed by the split verdict, "but we have to respect the decision the jury made."

Another nephew, Chris Adams, reacted bitterly.

Williams "was never held accountable for his actions. He was reckless; he was showing off," Adams said.

Lember said he was pleased the jury decided that Williams had tried to cover up the shooting, but disappointed by the acquittals.

The shooting happened Feb. 14, 2002, while Williams gave friends and members of the Harlem Globetrotters a tour of his mansion in Alexandria Township.

According to testimony, Williams, who had a skeet-shooting range on his 65-acre estate, took a loaded shotgun from a cabinet in the master bedroom. He turned, uttered an expletive at Christofi, possibly in jest, and then snapped the weapon shut, and it went off, according to testimony.

Christofi was struck in the chest and died within minutes. Williams dropped to his knees and wailed, "Oh my God! Oh my God!" and "My life is over," according to witnesses.

Witnesses testified that Williams wiped the gun down, then put it in Christofi's hands. The former basketball star stripped naked, pushed his clothes into the arms of a friend, told him to get rid of them, and took a swim in his indoor pool before police arrived.

Four Globetrotters testified with immunity, after initially telling police they were downstairs at the time of the shooting -- a cover story they said Williams demanded. Two of Williams' friends pleaded guilty to evidence tampering and testified.

A weapons expert testifying for the defense said the shotgun's firing mechanism was worn and fouled with wood chips, rust and oil. He said the weapon could misfire when snapped shut. Prosecution experts disputed that.

Williams did not testify during the nearly three-month trial, telling the judge he had "great confidence" in the jury.

Lember told the jury Williams was reckless because he had been drinking and chose to handle a loaded weapon in a room where other people were standing. "When you play with deadly weapons, 'accident' is no defense," Lember said.

Defense attorney Billy Martin said: "That gun was never pointed, was not aimed. It was not meant to be directed at Gus Christofi. It's a tragic accident."

One New Jersey criminal defense expert, attorney Alan Zegas, said the jury's decision to acquit Williams of the most serious charges was a victory for the defense.

"On the use of the gun, I think most criminal practitioners would say that the central issue was whether the use was reckless, and the jury divided on that issue," he said.

Early this month, Williams' lawyers demanded that the charges be dismissed because the prosecution withheld some evidence until the defense had rested. During a three-week break in testimony to address the dispute, the judge decided the mistake was unintentional and allowed the defense to reopen its case.

Williams retired from 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.