SOMERVILLE, N.J. — Former Nets star Jayson Williams, his personal life in shambles, took responsibility for accidentally shooting his limousine driver to death eight years ago by pleading guilty Monday to assault and agreeing to serve at least 18 months in prison.
Williams was awaiting retrial on a reckless manslaughter count but pleaded guilty to the lesser aggravated assault count for the 2002 death of Costas Christofi.
Williams remained poised during the hearing and mostly answered yes and no questions, though he did tell the judge that he had not fully checked a shotgun he was showing off to friends before snapping it closed.
“I didn’t look in the direction the muzzle of the gun was pointed,” he said, before admitting that his handling of the gun was reckless and that the gunshot caused Christofi’s death.
Williams, who was charged with drunken driving after crashing his SUV into a tree in New York last week, had stitches visible above his right eye.
Williams will serve 18 months in state prison for the aggravated assault charge and up to five years for a prior conviction of trying to cover up the crime. The sentences will be concurrent and he’ll be eligible for parole after 18 months.
Williams, 41, paid the Christofi family more than $2 million in 2003 to settle a wrongful death lawsuit.
• The Nets sent forward Eduardo Najera to the Mavericks in exchange for forwards Kris Humphries and Shawne Williams.
• The Nets waived forward Sean Williams, the 17th overall pick in the 2007 NBA draft out of Boston College.
Bucks’ Redd out for season
PHOENIX — Bucks guard Michael Redd will miss the remainder of the season because of a torn ACL and MCL in his left knee, an injury that occurred during Sunday night’s 95-77 loss to the Lakers.
Redd suffered the same injury about a year ago and had mostly struggled this season after coming back from surgery last March.
“I cried,” Redd said. “I had worked so hard to get back to where I was. It hurts.”
• Bucks coach Scott Skiles was hospitalized with an irregular heartbeat shortly before Milwaukee’s game against the Suns.
Skiles, who spoke to the media shortly before the game and showed no signs of illness, was hospitalized for precautionary purposes, a team spokesman said.
Jim Boylan coached the Bucks in Skiles’ absence.
Randolph sidelined
OAKLAND, Calif. — Warriors forward Anthony Randolph will be sidelined perhaps two months or more with a serious ankle injury.
Randolph, a second-year pro averaging 11.6 points and a team-leading 6.5 rebounds in 22.7 minutes per game this season, underwent an MRI exam on his injured left ankle that revealed a tear of two outside ligaments in the ankle and a sprain in another ligament. He also has an avulsion fracture where the muscle pulled away from a piece of bone, which had damage from a previous sprain.
The Warriors said Ran- dolph will wear a walking boot for three weeks and then be re-evaluated.
Kings acquire Armstrong
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The Kings acquired forward Hilton Armstrong from the Hornets for a conditional 2016 second-round pick and cash considerations.
The Associated Press
