Troubled ex-NBA player Jayson Williams has plead guilty to aggravated assault in the 2002 shooting death of limousine driver Costas “Gus” Christofi. He’ll face a minimum of 18 months in prison, but avoids a more serious charge of reckless manslaughter, which could have meant a 10-year sentence.
According to testimony at his first trial, the Williams was showing off a shotgun to friends in his bedroom when he snapped the weapon shut, causing it to fire and hit Christofi in the chest. In an attempt to cover up the accident, Williams then placed the gun in the dead man’s grasp and instructed his friends to lie about the incident.
Williams was acquitted of reckless manslaughter and convicted of attempting to cover up the crime in 2004, but the jury deadlocked on the charge of reckless manslaughter. A re-trial on that charge was to start this week.
A History of Trouble
Williams was a rugged rebounder who played nine NBA seasons with the New Jersey Nets and Philadelphia 76ers. His NBA career was cut short in 2000, when he was forced to retire due to severe leg injuries. His life after basketball has been… eventful.
- He was let go from his job as an analyst with NBC Sports after the shooting.
- The 2002 incident wasn’t the first time Williams acted irresponsibly with a firearm. According to his autobiography, Loose Balls (published in 2000), Williams nearly shot New York Jets wide receiver Wayne Chrebet when the two were taking target practice.
- In April 2009, shortly after his wife filed for divorce, police officers were forced to use a stun gun to subdue a “suicidal” Williams at a Manhattan hotel.
- In May, he was charged with assault in North Carolina after getting involved in a brawl in a Raleigh nightclub.
- And just last week, Williams was charged with driving while intoxicated after crashing his SUV into a tree just off the FDR Drive in lower Manhattan.
Jayson Williams Pleads Guilty originally appeared on About.com Basketball on Monday, January 11th, 2010 at 12:28:15.
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