Document text
--> --> Jayson Williams leaves with his wife, Tanya, after posting bail in Flemington, N.J., in this March 11 photo. Williams was indicted on manslaughter charges today in the shooting death of a limousine driver. AP Williams indicted in shooting death By Sheila Hotchkin Associated Press Writer FLEMINGTON, N.J. - Former NBA All-Star Jayson Williams faces a new, more serious manslaughter charge in an indictment returned today in the shooting death of a limousine driver at his estate. Williams was indicted on a series of charges, including aggravated manslaughter, which could bring an additional 10 years in prison if he is convicted. He also was indicted on earlier charges of reckless manslaughter, aggravated assault and witness and evidence tampering. He could face more than 20 years in prison if convicted on all charges. He remains free on $270,000 bail. A friend of the former New Jersey Nets star, John Gordnick, was indicted on two charges, including evidence tampering. The 34-year-old Williams was charged Feb. 25 in the Feb. 14 death of Costas Christofi. Williams appeared in court on the charges in March. He did not enter a plea and was not required to do so until a grand jury indictment. A date for arraignment was not immediately scheduled. His spokeswoman, Judy Smith, has said Williams will plead innocent "at the appropriate time." Lawyers for Williams and Gordnick did not return calls for comment immediately. Prosecutors say Williams was recklessly handling his 12-gauge shotgun and that he and two friends, Gordnick and Kent Culuko, tried to make the shooting look like a suicide. Prosecutors would have to show Williams demonstrated "extreme indifference to human life" to prove the aggravated manslaughter charge. Acting Hunterdon County Prosecutor Steven Lember has said there were reasons to believe that alcohol "is something we need to look into," but has not said whether Williams was drinking before the shooting. In a deal with prosecutors last week, Culuko pleaded guilty to tampering with evidence and witnesses and agreed to testify against Williams and Gordnick. Christofi, 55, was apparently invited on a tour of Williams' mansion in Alexandria Township after picking up the former NBA All-Star's friends at a Harlem Globetrotters game in Bethlehem, Pa., prosecutors said. The 6-foot-10 Williams was once among the NBA's best rebounders, but leg injuries ended his career and he retired from the Nets in 2000. Since the shooting, he has been suspended from his job as an NBA analyst for NBC. Email your... Technical questions & comments to: WebMaster Daily Tidings editorial comments & questions to: Editor Visit our other Oregon Newspapers... | Albany Democrat-Herald | Ashland Daily Tidings | Corvallis Gazette-Times | | Lebanon Express | Newport News-Times | Springfield News | Cottage Grove Sentinel | Ashland Daily Tidings 1661 Siskiyou Blvd. Ashland, OR 97520 Telephone 541-482-3456 © Copyright 2001 Lee Northwest Publishing