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CNN Live Today

Reporter Discusses Jayson Williams Murder Investigation

Aired March 05, 2002 - 14:16   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
TIM LAYDEN, "SPORTS ILLUSTRATED": ... mansion. During that same time, two witnesses have told us that Jayson Williams and one other person at that time were using the shotgun and trying to put Christofi's fingerprint and palm prints on the gun, to make more plausible that he had shot himself. And at the same time, or shortly afterwards, Jayson Williams disposed of the clothing that he was wearing at the time of shooting.

BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Disposed of in which way?

LAYDEN: We don't know yet. We were just told by people that he had got rid of the clothing and changed into fresh clothing by the time that the police arrived.

HEMMER: Update me, Tim. Is Jayson Williams the only one facing charges right now in this case?

LAYDEN: At this point he is.

HEMMER: There's another bit of information in this article that I read earlier today, dealing with the Harlem Globetrotters. How do they come into this picture?

LAYDEN: The evening began with Jayson Williams attending a Harlem Globetrotters game at Lehigh University, in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. He was cosponsor of the event, bought many tickets to it. After the event was over, Jayson Williams rented what was described as a limousine -- it was actually a passenger van -- and took four members of the Globetrotters and at least 10 other people to a restaurant in New Jersey and then back to his home.

Four members of that team, including Chris Morris and Benoit Benjamin, who both played the NBA with Jayson Williams, and two others, Paul Gaffney and Curley Johnson, were in the mansion at the time of the shooting. And two of those Trotters have accepted offers of immunity from the Hunterdon County prosecutor's office, and the other two are considering offers of immunity, which, of course, indicates the prosecutor is considering amending and stiffening the charges against Williams.

HEMMER: One would also assume that they're cooperating too, if that's the case, right?

LAYDEN: At least two of them are so far. HEMMER: There is another bit of evidence in the article that indicates any way that investigators are learning more and more every day. In what way, Tim?

LAYDEN: Well, for instance, just the fact that the evidence tampering and the fact that there appears to possibly have been another person in the room with Jayson Williams at the time of the shooting, simply because the Globetrotters have come forward and said that there was another person helping with the evidence tampering and helping try to plant fingerprints. And the fact that prosecutors have said that it's an ongoing investigation, and that sources have told us that they expect to file higher charges at some point.

HEMMER: Tim, have you been able to piece together how the shotgun went off and how Christofi was killed?

LAYDEN: We don't know that yet, Bill.

HEMMER: And investigators in their search, certainly, this is the golden answer in all of this. And I'm curious to know in your reporting if any of the charges that have been labeled just yesterday will be enhanced or upgraded?

LAYDEN: We expect that they will be. All that the prosecutors have said so far is that the shotgun was being handled in a reckless manner by Jayson Williams, and indications are that they believe that it was that, and possibly more.

HEMMER: With the exception of what you're reporting on the night of the shooting, how has Jayson Williams responded or behaved throughout all this?

LAYDEN: Jayson Williams's first public appearance and first public statement came yesterday at a mandatory hearing in Hunterdon County, New Jersey. At that point he stood briefly with wife after the hearing and expressed his condolences to Christofi's family. And that was the only statement that he made.

HEMMER: Jayson Williams has a history of working with firearms, does he not?

LAYDEN: Several times. And previously, he faced gun charges, one other time for allegedly discharging firearm in the parking lot of Meadowlands Arena and had six shotguns in his bedroom in a rack.

HEMMER: Looking into history, how will that possibly play into this case? Can you tell at all?

LAYDEN: No, it's too soon to tell. We know that Jayson Williams has a history of erratic behavior, along with endearing and enjoyable behavior. But how that plays out is yet to be seen.

HEMMER: Good reporting. Tim, thanks. Tim Layden, from "Sports Illustrated."

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