Jayson Williams / Costas Christofi fatal shooting case

closedUSFebruary 14, 2002 — February 23, 2010

0 verified · 5 unverified · 5 claims total

On May 1, 2002, former NBA player Jayson Williams was indicted on charges including aggravated manslaughter in connection with the fatal shooting of limousine driver Costas Christofi at Williams's New Jersey estate; later proceedings ended with cover-up convictions and a guilty plea to aggravated assault.

Timeline

  1. February 14, 2002Costas Christofi is fatally shot at Jayson Williams's New Jersey estate

    Costas Christofi is fatally shot at Jayson Williams's New Jersey estate

  2. May 1, 2002Jayson Williams indicted on charges including aggravated manslaughterkey event

    Jayson Williams indicted on charges including aggravated manslaughter

  3. April 30, 2004Jury returns mixed verdict and deadlocks on reckless manslaughter

    Jury returns mixed verdict and deadlocks on reckless manslaughter

  4. April 11, 2007New Jersey Supreme Court rules post-shooting evidence admissible for retrial

    New Jersey Supreme Court rules post-shooting evidence admissible for retrial

  5. February 23, 2010Williams sentenced after aggravated-assault plea

    Williams sentenced after aggravated-assault plea

Claims

Each claim is sourced and shown by default. The mark beside it reads its status — a hollow ring with the count of independent sources (reported, awaiting review), a solid dot (human-verified), or oxblood (disputed). Verification is human-only.

0 of 5 facts verified · help verify →

In 2007, the New Jersey Supreme Court held that post-shooting consciousness-of-guilt evidence was relevant and admissible for the reckless manslaughter retrial, with limiting instructions.[1]

origin: imported

At the 2004 trial, Williams was acquitted of aggravated manslaughter, convicted on post-shooting cover-up counts, and the jury deadlocked on reckless manslaughter.[1, 2, 3]

origin: imported

The charges arose from the February 2002 shooting death of Costas “Gus” Christofi at Williams's New Jersey estate.[1, 4]

origin: imported

On May 1, 2002, former NBA player Jayson Williams was indicted on charges including aggravated manslaughter in connection with the fatal shooting of Costas Christofi.[5]

origin: imported

In 2010, Williams pleaded guilty to aggravated assault and received a prison sentence, with the cover-up sentence running concurrently according to ABC7's sentencing report.[3, 5]

origin: imported

Sources

Sources opened and checked for this issue — not exhaustive, official, or a complete record. Numbers match the citation marks above.

  1. 1.Justia — State v. Jayson S. Williams
  2. 2.NPR — Former NBA Star To Plead Guilty In 2002 Shooting That Killed Man
  3. 3.ABC7 New York — Jayson Williams sentenced to minimum 18 months
  4. 4.ESPN — Former NBA star Williams faces manslaughter charge
  5. 5.HISTORY — Former NBA All-Star Jayson Williams indicted for manslaughter