It's the cover up that much of the time does a person in. If he would have immediately called 911 saying I accidentally shot this guy, come running - he would have most likely been all right law wise. Either way, he recklessly took the man's life. And that just can't be excused. He wanted to put the "fear of God" in this man as a gag. I believe he'll be found guilty and sentenced to at least 20 years.
You guys may well be right. IMO, there is no doubt that Jayson did not mean to kill the man. But all of his actions afterwards are going to play into the deal. The man is lying there bleeding to death, and Jayson says,"My life is over." Your life? Trying to put the man's finger prints on the gun as he is dying...not good.
Key events in State of New Jersey v. Jayson Williams:
Feb. 14, 2002 Limousine driver Costas ''Gus'' Christofi found shot to death at Williams' Alexandria Township mansion.
Feb. 22 State judge signs warrant for Williams' arrest on second-degree manslaughter.
Feb. 25 Williams surrenders to police, released on $250,000 bail.
March 11 Prosecutors file more charges against Williams, accusing him of tampering with witnesses and evidence to make Christofi's shooting death appear self-inflicted. Bail increased $20,000. Two of Williams' guests from the night of the shooting, Kent Culuko and John Gordnick, surrender on charges related to the alleged cover-up.
April 25 Culuko pleads guilty to evidence and witness tampering, agrees to testify against Williams.
May 1 Williams indicted on first-degree manslaughter and other charges. Gordnick indicted on hindering apprehension and evidence tampering.
June 7 Williams and Gordnick plead not guilty.
Aug. 9 Bridgewater police officer Eric Allena, accused of interfering in investigation, enters not guilty plea.
Aug. 22 Gordnick pleads guilty to evidence tampering, agrees to testify against Williams.
Oct. 30 Christofi's relatives sue Williams.
Dec. 18 Superior Court judge rejects motion by Williams' lawyers to dismiss indictment. Attorneys had argued indictment was compromised by mistakes during grand jury proceedings.
January 2003 Williams pays Christofi's family $2.75 million to settle wrongful-death lawsuit.
March 5 A second indictment repeats original charges against Williams, adds a weapons charge.
March 7 State appeals court refuses to hear arguments by Williams' defense team that prosecutors misused grand jury system.
March 10: Superior Court judge dismisses original indictment against Williams, leaving only second indictment.
March 19 State appeals court orders release of 911 tape made after shooting.
March 20 Williams pleads not guilty to new indictment.
May 1 Superior Court judge refuses to throw out charges against Bridgewater police officer accused of interfering in investigation.
May 20 Williams' lawyers request personnel files on dozens of state troopers, saying examples of racial profiling or bias would be relevant at his trial.
July 1 Superior Court judge denies request by Williams' attorneys for racial and ethnic breakdown of grand jurors who indicted him.
Aug. 7 Williams' lawyers lose bid to get indictment thrown out.
Sept. 16 Superior Court judge allows Williams' lawyers to review personnel and employment records of five white state troopers involved in manslaughter investigation.
Sept. 18 Hunterdon County prosecutors ask Superior Court judge to delay Allena's trial.
Oct. 16 Superior Court judge orders Williams trial moved out of Hunterdon County to neighboring Somerset County.
Oct. 31 James Kiernan, a state trooper who investigated shooting of Christofi, files slander suit against Williams and his lawyers.
Jan. 13, 2004 Jury selection begins for Williams trial.
Feb. 10 Opening statements in trial.
March 17 Prosecution rests after calling 36 witnesses.
March 31 Williams tells the judge he is innocent and will not testify. Defense rests after calling five witnesses.
April 1 Trial suspended over evidence dispute.
April 15 Judge refuses to dismiss charges, finding prosecution did not intentionally withhold evidence, but allows defense to reopen case.
April 19-20 Defense calls five witnesses and rests. Prosecution declines to have rebuttal case.
April 26 Jury hears closing statements from defense and prosecution.
April 27 Jury begins deliberations.
Feb. 14, 2002 Limousine driver Costas ''Gus'' Christofi found shot to death at Williams' Alexandria Township mansion.
Feb. 22 State judge signs warrant for Williams' arrest on second-degree manslaughter.
Feb. 25 Williams surrenders to police, released on $250,000 bail.
March 11 Prosecutors file more charges against Williams, accusing him of tampering with witnesses and evidence to make Christofi's shooting death appear self-inflicted. Bail increased $20,000. Two of Williams' guests from the night of the shooting, Kent Culuko and John Gordnick, surrender on charges related to the alleged cover-up.
April 25 Culuko pleads guilty to evidence and witness tampering, agrees to testify against Williams.
May 1 Williams indicted on first-degree manslaughter and other charges. Gordnick indicted on hindering apprehension and evidence tampering.
June 7 Williams and Gordnick plead not guilty.
Aug. 9 Bridgewater police officer Eric Allena, accused of interfering in investigation, enters not guilty plea.
Aug. 22 Gordnick pleads guilty to evidence tampering, agrees to testify against Williams.
Oct. 30 Christofi's relatives sue Williams.
Dec. 18 Superior Court judge rejects motion by Williams' lawyers to dismiss indictment. Attorneys had argued indictment was compromised by mistakes during grand jury proceedings.
January 2003 Williams pays Christofi's family $2.75 million to settle wrongful-death lawsuit.
March 5 A second indictment repeats original charges against Williams, adds a weapons charge.
March 7 State appeals court refuses to hear arguments by Williams' defense team that prosecutors misused grand jury system.
March 10: Superior Court judge dismisses original indictment against Williams, leaving only second indictment.
March 19 State appeals court orders release of 911 tape made after shooting.
March 20 Williams pleads not guilty to new indictment.
May 1 Superior Court judge refuses to throw out charges against Bridgewater police officer accused of interfering in investigation.
May 20 Williams' lawyers request personnel files on dozens of state troopers, saying examples of racial profiling or bias would be relevant at his trial.
July 1 Superior Court judge denies request by Williams' attorneys for racial and ethnic breakdown of grand jurors who indicted him.
Aug. 7 Williams' lawyers lose bid to get indictment thrown out.
Sept. 16 Superior Court judge allows Williams' lawyers to review personnel and employment records of five white state troopers involved in manslaughter investigation.
Sept. 18 Hunterdon County prosecutors ask Superior Court judge to delay Allena's trial.
Oct. 16 Superior Court judge orders Williams trial moved out of Hunterdon County to neighboring Somerset County.
Oct. 31 James Kiernan, a state trooper who investigated shooting of Christofi, files slander suit against Williams and his lawyers.
Jan. 13, 2004 Jury selection begins for Williams trial.
Feb. 10 Opening statements in trial.
March 17 Prosecution rests after calling 36 witnesses.
March 31 Williams tells the judge he is innocent and will not testify. Defense rests after calling five witnesses.
April 1 Trial suspended over evidence dispute.
April 15 Judge refuses to dismiss charges, finding prosecution did not intentionally withhold evidence, but allows defense to reopen case.
April 19-20 Defense calls five witnesses and rests. Prosecution declines to have rebuttal case.
April 26 Jury hears closing statements from defense and prosecution.
April 27 Jury begins deliberations.
Honestly, does anyone wanna predict the results of a trial anymore?
He should go to jail for as much time as he can be sentenced to. The fact that he shot a dog and that was inadmissable was disgusting, but there is more than enough to lock him up for a long long time.
How do you shoot a guy and then just watch him die AS you are trying to make it look like suicide. Just unreal how horrible a thing that is to do.
He should go to jail for as much time as he can be sentenced to. The fact that he shot a dog and that was inadmissable was disgusting, but there is more than enough to lock him up for a long long time.
How do you shoot a guy and then just watch him die AS you are trying to make it look like suicide. Just unreal how horrible a thing that is to do.
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Mr NJ Sports:
Actually I can see this happening . He gets acquitted and then guess which 12 people show up at Jaysons house for a picnic this summer?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Does stuff like that still happen? I see it on the Soprano's, but i thought it is extremely rare.
Actually I can see this happening . He gets acquitted and then guess which 12 people show up at Jaysons house for a picnic this summer?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Does stuff like that still happen? I see it on the Soprano's, but i thought it is extremely rare.
It's fairly cut and dry. Jayson tried to scare the man earlier that night in a restaurant and then told him he was just kidding. Everyone went to Jayson's house afterwards. The Limo driver walked in Jayson's bedroom. Williams said, "What the F you doing in my room stoolie." while holding the shotgun, trying to scare him again. But when he went to level the gun at the Limo Driver it discharged. Jayson then tried to put the man's prints on the gun, and told everyone in the room to say they were downstairs. What more do you want to know ID?
vegassportspics has summed it up. I am troubled by this jury. During deliberations they asked a question: "What were Jayson's instructions after the shooting" The jury said "Jayson" instead of the defendant or Mr. Williams. It also troubles me that the question seems to imply that one or more jurors is debating whether Jayson covered up the crime.
One last thought, It was an accident, in that no way did Jayson mean to shoot/kill this man he didn't even know. And the jury just may focus in on that point.
But when you point a loaded gun at someone a bit tough to label it as a pure accident. It appears cut and dry, reckless manslaughter. As for Jayson's actions afterwards...he was most likely drunk. He blows this guy away. Rational thinking might tend to leave a person at that point. The world rules are somewhat clear on this matter. F up, rational or not, pay the price.
But when you point a loaded gun at someone a bit tough to label it as a pure accident. It appears cut and dry, reckless manslaughter. As for Jayson's actions afterwards...he was most likely drunk. He blows this guy away. Rational thinking might tend to leave a person at that point. The world rules are somewhat clear on this matter. F up, rational or not, pay the price.
Benjamin at 39 saying he was playing on the Globetrotters as a springboard to get back in the NBA...What a joke that man is. He really tried to fry Williams in court with his, "Yes, I saw Jayson pull the trigger." He had never made the statement previously and actually took prosecutors by surprise. Apparently in Williams book, "Loose Balls" he had made fun of Benoit as being slow.(mind wise) Guess Benjamin was looking for a bit of bigtime payback.
(The jury has decided nothing. They're still out.)
(The jury has decided nothing. They're still out.)
