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CNN Live At Daybreak
Jury Selection Set to Begin in Manslaughter Trial of Jayson Williams
Aired January 13, 2004 - 05:04 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.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Jury selection is set to begin in the manslaughter trial of former NBA star Jayson Williams.
CNN's Deborah Feyerick has details.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Williams right there to pick it up. Jayson Williams!
DEBORAH FEYERICK, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): He was a star rebounder for the New Jersey Nets, with an $86 million contract. A popular guest on David Letterman's show, Jayson Williams became NBA studio analyst after a career ending leg injury in 2000. Then, early Valentine's Day 2002, this 9/11 call from inside Williams' sprawling New Jersey estate, a call made by his brother.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, we have an emergency. Somebody just got shot.
FEYERICK: Williams and a small group of friends, including four players from the Harlem Globe Trotters, had been out eating and drinking. They were touring the mansion and were in the master bedroom. According to court papers filed by the prosecutor, Williams was showing off a double barrel shotgun. It went off, killing limo driver Gus Christofi, who Williams had hired for the night.
Prosecutors say Williams acted with extreme indifference to human life.
STEVEN LEMBER, HUNTERDON COUNTY, NEW JERSEY PROSECUTOR: The conduct of the defendant, given all of the circumstances present at the time, demonstrated recklessness on his part.
FEYERICK: But Williams' lawyers say the gun went off by itself, accidentally firing when Williams snapped the gun shut.
JOSEPH HAYDEN, DEFENSE ATTORNEY: The death of Mr. Christofi was a tragic accident, but it was an accident.
FEYERICK: What happened after is also on trial. Sources say prosecution witnesses will testify Williams panicked, wiped his prints from the gun and tried to make the shooting look like suicide. A year ago, Williams settled a wrongful death suit with the victim's family, paying close to $3 million. The family accepted his apology, saying, "We are sure that he did not intend to hurt Gus." Deborah Feyerick, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Jayson Williams>
Aired January 13, 2004 - 05:04 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Jury selection is set to begin in the manslaughter trial of former NBA star Jayson Williams.
CNN's Deborah Feyerick has details.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Williams right there to pick it up. Jayson Williams!
DEBORAH FEYERICK, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): He was a star rebounder for the New Jersey Nets, with an $86 million contract. A popular guest on David Letterman's show, Jayson Williams became NBA studio analyst after a career ending leg injury in 2000. Then, early Valentine's Day 2002, this 9/11 call from inside Williams' sprawling New Jersey estate, a call made by his brother.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, we have an emergency. Somebody just got shot.
FEYERICK: Williams and a small group of friends, including four players from the Harlem Globe Trotters, had been out eating and drinking. They were touring the mansion and were in the master bedroom. According to court papers filed by the prosecutor, Williams was showing off a double barrel shotgun. It went off, killing limo driver Gus Christofi, who Williams had hired for the night.
Prosecutors say Williams acted with extreme indifference to human life.
STEVEN LEMBER, HUNTERDON COUNTY, NEW JERSEY PROSECUTOR: The conduct of the defendant, given all of the circumstances present at the time, demonstrated recklessness on his part.
FEYERICK: But Williams' lawyers say the gun went off by itself, accidentally firing when Williams snapped the gun shut.
JOSEPH HAYDEN, DEFENSE ATTORNEY: The death of Mr. Christofi was a tragic accident, but it was an accident.
FEYERICK: What happened after is also on trial. Sources say prosecution witnesses will testify Williams panicked, wiped his prints from the gun and tried to make the shooting look like suicide. A year ago, Williams settled a wrongful death suit with the victim's family, paying close to $3 million. The family accepted his apology, saying, "We are sure that he did not intend to hurt Gus." Deborah Feyerick, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Jayson Williams>
