From the Bergen Record’s John Brennen.
A defense attorney for former basketball star Jayson Williams argued Monday before the New Jersey Supreme Court that admitting evidence of Williams’ post-shooting conduct during his reckless manslaughter retrial would be “potentially inflammatory in nature.”
But a Hunterdon County assistant prosecutor insisted that Williams’ botched coverup attempt “proves his state of mind and consciousness of guilt” following the Feb. 14, 2002 fatal shooting of limousine driver Costas “Gus” Christofi at Williams’ estate.
“To allow [the current court ruling] to stand is to withhold from the jury what truly happened that night,” prosecutor Charles Ouslander said.
Joseph Hayden, Williams’ attorney argued that if presented with the post-shooting evidence, “a jury could conclude that the defendant is unsympathetic and callous” and thus improperly be swayed toward a reckless manslaughter conviction.