Great Sports Tragedies - Jayson Williams - NBA

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Great Sports Tragedies - Jayson Williams - NBA

More bad news for Jayson Williams

SOMERVILLE, N.J. -- Retired NBA star Jayson Williams will remain free on bail after a judge on Monday rejected a prosecutor's request to revoke the bail and send him to prison for covering up the shooting of a hired driver more than seven years ago.

Williams
Williams

Prosecutors asked the judge to reconsider the sentencing delay due to Williams' recent run-ins with the law.

In April, police used a stun gun on Williams during an altercation in a New York hotel room, and in May he was arrested in North Carolina and charged with assault for allegedly punching someone in a barroom dispute. Earlier this year, his wife filed divorce papers claiming he was abusive and had a drug problem.

Hunterdon County Assistant Prosecutor Seana Pappas said those recent events show Williams to be "unpredictable."

But State Superior Court Judge Edward M. Coleman said Williams hasn't been convicted of anything since his 2004 trial and continues to show up to court as required. Coleman also denied prosecutors' request to increase his bail.

Williams played nine seasons in the NBA with the Nets and the Philadelphia 76ers before retiring in 2000.

He was convicted in 2004 of trying to cover up the shooting death of his hired driver Costas "Gus" Christofi at his mansion in Alexandria Township, N.J. He was acquitted of aggravated manslaughter, but the jury deadlocked on a reckless manslaughter count.

A retrial is pending and Williams has been free on bail since the 2002 shooting.

Williams declined to comment on Monday's ruling as he left the courtroom.