Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Live At Daybreak

Death in NBA Star's Home Raises Questions

Aired February 21, 2002 - 06:10   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: The death of former NBA star Jayson Williams' limo driver is now officially a homicide. The driver was shot to death at Williams' New Jersey mansion.

Our Deborah Feyerick has details.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DEBORAH FEYERICK, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): NBA all-star rebounder Jayson Williams seemed like a regular guy, a popular guest on David Letterman's show.

JAYSON WILLIAMS, FMR. NBA STAR: Both of us are overpaid, me and you, Dave.

DAVID LETTERMAN, TALK SHOW HOST: Well, speak for yourself.

FEYERICK: The ex-New Jersey Nets star and NBC Sports commentator now avoiding the spotlight he always courted after a limo driver was shot to death in the bedroom of Williams' 40-room estate. Fifty-five year old Costas Christofi, Gus to his friends, buried with a burning question: why did this happen?

ROSE ADAMS, VICTIM'S NIECE: Nobody's going to know the truth and -- except who was there that night. And I just hope somebody was honest and tells the truth.

FEYERICK: It's unclear whether Williams has told his story to prosecutors. His lawyer hasn't returned CNN's many phone calls, neither has the prosecutor. Reports first labeled the shooting a suicide. The Hunterdon County medical examiner now ruling a homicide caused by a gunshot wound to the chest and abdomen at intermediate range.

Authorities have told several news organizations that Williams had shotguns in his home. He also had skeet shooting range on his property. Williams loved the sprawling estate he and his father built, calling it "Who Knew," always eager to show it off. That night, Christofi was hired to drive Williams and his friends around, taking them to dinner outside Philadelphia, according to the limo company.

Williams gave a late-night impromptu tour of his home to his friends, including four of the Harlem Globe Trotters, according to a spokesman for the team. The spokesman says, "By no means were our players involved." Beyond that, no one's talking.

Williams retired from basketball two years ago after a career- ending leg-breaking collision. "New York Post" writer Fred Kerber calls Williams a "popular guy with an infectious laugh who has had scrapes with the law."

FRED KERBER, "NEW YORK POST": There were incidences, you know, bar fights and all. And usually, you know, when Jayson got in trouble there was -- you know, it was around a bar or there was alcohol involved or something.

FEYERICK: Friends call Williams very generous, donating time and money from his $86 million Nets contract to a variety of charities. Celebrity Lawyer Mark Garagos warns against a rush to judge.

MARK GARAGOS, CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY: Well people tend to get short shrift or they tend to have kind of an overblown situation where they -- people have kind of connected the dots in terms of a history and then developed a theory. And it really normally does not fit.

FEYERICK (on camera): With the medical examiner ruling the death a homicide, prosecutors are now trying to find out exactly who pulled the trigger and whether or not it was an accident.

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