Jayson Williams Sentenced - 5 Years Behind Bars

[MR8181]

Former NBA star Jayson Williams was just sentenced to five years in prison for the 2002 shooting death of his limo driver, Costas Christofi, and will be available for parole after 18 months.

During the hearing, Christofi's sister held up a photo of him, while a rep for the family stood up and said Jayson had never apologized to the family for killing Christofi. The rep begged the judge to make Jayson serve all five years in prison without probation.

Jayson eventually stood up, teary-eyed, and apologized to them ... along with his own family, church and the NBA.

We were live inside Somerset County Courthouse in New Jersey during Jayson's sentencing this morning, below are the highlights from the hearing ... video to follow.

[MR8181]

5 Years For Killing Someone....how Is That Fair?

[UnitedLonghorn]

Wait wasn't it an accidental murder without intent?

[MR8181]

Originally Posted by UnitedLonghorn

Wait wasn't it an accidental murder without intent?

Williams, avoiding a retrial on a reckless manslaughter count that deadlocked the jury at his 2004 trial, pleaded guilty last month to aggravated assault in the death of Costas Christofi in February 2002. At the same 2004 trial, he was acquitted of aggravated manslaughter but convicted on four counts of covering up the shooting. Williams admitted at his plea hearing last month that he gave the group a tour of the house and showed them his gun collection in his bedroom. While showing off a double-barreled 12-gauge shotgun, Williams admitted, he failed to check the safety mechanism and inspected only one of the two barrels before snapping it shut.

The gun fired, striking Christofi once in the chest and killing him. Witnesses testified that Williams tried to cover up his involvement by initially placing the gun in Christofi's hands and instructing those present in the bedroom to lie about what happened.

**YEAH THEY CALLED IT ACCIDENTAL BUT THERE IS ALOT OF THINGS POINTING OTHERWISE I JUST CANT FIND THE ARTICLES. I STILL THINK MONEY GOT HIM OUT OF IT I THINK HE PAID OVER 2 MILLION TO REDUCE CHARGES FROM THE VICTIMS LOVED ONES. ALL IN ALL A LIFE WAS TAKEN AND IF IT WAS AN ACCIDENT WHY TRY TO COVER IT UP.