Former Denver Broncos player Javon Walker has been subpoenaed to testify during the upcoming trial over Darrent Williams’ murder.
Willie Clark, 26, is charged with murdering Williams, a Broncos cornerback, on New Year’s Day 2007 after an altercation at a Denver nightclub.
Clark has told The Denver Post he did not commit the crime.
Although Walker and other athletes are expected at the trial, Judge Christina Habas ordered that none of them wear championship rings.
Members of the public are also barred from wearing professional sports jerseys, clothing, pins or other paraphernalia that she believes may prejudice jurors.
Jury selection is set to begin Feb. 19 and opening statements by the prosecution and defense team are expected Feb. 22.
Walker, who now plays for the Oakland Raiders, may be a key witness in the case because he was sitting next to Williams when several bullets pierced the stretch limousine they were riding in.
Williams died in Walker’s arms.
The courtroom is expected to be crowded during the trial, and seats for the public will be limited.
Habas has set aside an overflow courtroom in City Council chambers on the fourth floor of the City and County Building that will have an audio feed of the trial.
Cameras are banned from the fourth floor and cellphones are allowed only in certain areas because there is a concern for the safety of witnesses.
A secondary screening area with a metal detector is already set up outside Habas’ courtroom for the trial.
Any observer who leaves the courtroom for any reason during the trial will not be allowed back inside until there is a break.
Security is a concern in the case because Clark and two other associates have been charged with murdering Kalonniann Clark, a witness who was shot to death before she could testify against one of Clark’s friends in an unrelated attempted-murder case.
Felisa Cardona: 303-954-1219 or fcardona@denverpost.com
