Retired NBA star Jayson Williams has cut a plea deal that would send him to prison for up to three years for accidentally shooting a driver at his New Jersey estate in 2002, a person with knowledge of the case told The Associated Press on Thursday.
Williams, who retired in 2000 after playing nine seasons in the NBA for the Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Nets, was to face a retrial in January on a reckless manslaughter count.
The person, who not authorized to speak about the case, told the AP on condition of anonymity that Williams is to plead guilty to aggravated assault on Friday. Because a gun was used in the crime, Williams must serve at least 18 months in prison, the person said.
The plea deal would resolve all charges in the case that dragged out for nearly eight years.
Witnesses testified that while showing off a shotgun in his bedroom, Williams snapped the weapon shut and it fired one shot that struck driver Costas Christofi in the chest, killing him. They also testified that Williams initially placed the gun in the dead man's hands and instructed those present in the bedroom to lie about what happened. Williams has since settled with the Christofi family in the civil lawsuit associated with the case.
The defense has maintained the shooting was an accident and that Williams panicked afterward.
Source: AP
Williams is crazy so who knows what was going through his mind when he shot the gun.
ReplyDeletehe could have did 18 months 7 years ago and gave his wife the attorney fees thats crazy
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