In a 911 call placed minutes after a fatal shooting at Jayson Williams's estate, the basketball star's brother gave authorities a phony account that shifted blame away from Williams and onto the victim.
"This guy just picked up a loaded gun, he didn't know what he was doing... It just shot him in the chest," Victor Williams told an emergency operator February 14, 2002 as driver Costas "Gus" Christofi lay dying in the former Nets' master bedroom.
Prosecutors released copies of the tape Thursday as Williams was re-arraigned in Hunterdon County Superior Court on aggravated manslaughter and nine other charges that could land him in prison for up to 55 years.
Through his lawyer, the 6-foot, 10-inch hoopster pleaded "innocent to each and every count" in the indictment reached earlier this month.
Williams, 35, was arraigned on nearly identical charges last June, but his lawyers appealed the indictment because of what they charged was prosecutorial misconduct during the grand jury proceedings. Before a higher court could hear the appeal, prosecutors convened a second grand jury and re-indicted Williams.
Prosecutors claim a drunk, belligerent Williams shot Christofi accidentally while showing guests his gun collection and then covered up the shooting.
Outside the courthouse Williams's attorney, Billy Martin, said his team did not dispute the "basic facts" of the case, only whether they amounted to manslaughter, witness tampering and other crimes.
The evidence, Martin said, "will show the tragic shooting of Mr. Christofi was an accident, not a crime." Martin said the defense would try to get the second indictment quashed, but offered no specific legal argument.
Williams, wearing a gray pinstriped suit and an orange tie, attended the hearing with his wife Tanya. He did not speak during the arraignment and after it concluded he moved quickly through a phalanx of cameras to a waiting SUV.
His spokeswoman, Judy Smith, said he was not nervous about his court appearance.
"He was fine. This is our second time doing an arraignment," said Smith.
Williams's lawyers downplayed the statement Victor Williams made to the 911 operator. Attorney Joseph Hayden said the tape showed the "pandemonium and chaos" in the house after the shooting.
Victor Williams was asleep when Christofi was shot and Hayden noted that he did not witness the incident firsthand.
"This guy just picked up a loaded gun, he didn't know what he was doing... It just shot him in the chest," Victor Williams told an emergency operator February 14, 2002 as driver Costas "Gus" Christofi lay dying in the former Nets' master bedroom.
Prosecutors released copies of the tape Thursday as Williams was re-arraigned in Hunterdon County Superior Court on aggravated manslaughter and nine other charges that could land him in prison for up to 55 years.
Through his lawyer, the 6-foot, 10-inch hoopster pleaded "innocent to each and every count" in the indictment reached earlier this month.
Williams, 35, was arraigned on nearly identical charges last June, but his lawyers appealed the indictment because of what they charged was prosecutorial misconduct during the grand jury proceedings. Before a higher court could hear the appeal, prosecutors convened a second grand jury and re-indicted Williams.
Prosecutors claim a drunk, belligerent Williams shot Christofi accidentally while showing guests his gun collection and then covered up the shooting.
Outside the courthouse Williams's attorney, Billy Martin, said his team did not dispute the "basic facts" of the case, only whether they amounted to manslaughter, witness tampering and other crimes.
The evidence, Martin said, "will show the tragic shooting of Mr. Christofi was an accident, not a crime." Martin said the defense would try to get the second indictment quashed, but offered no specific legal argument.
Williams, wearing a gray pinstriped suit and an orange tie, attended the hearing with his wife Tanya. He did not speak during the arraignment and after it concluded he moved quickly through a phalanx of cameras to a waiting SUV.
His spokeswoman, Judy Smith, said he was not nervous about his court appearance.
"He was fine. This is our second time doing an arraignment," said Smith.
Williams's lawyers downplayed the statement Victor Williams made to the 911 operator. Attorney Joseph Hayden said the tape showed the "pandemonium and chaos" in the house after the shooting.
Victor Williams was asleep when Christofi was shot and Hayden noted that he did not witness the incident firsthand.
