Ex-NBA Star Gets 5 Years in Death of Driver

Jayson Williams was sentenced to 5 years in prison today for accidentally shooting and killing a limousine driver in 2002. The 42-year-old former New Jersey Net, who must serve a minimum of 18 months, tearfully apologized to the family of Costas “Gus” Christofi. “I pray that today brings you some comfort,” he said. But the prosecutor urged the judge to be harsh on Williams, reading a scathing letter from Christofi’s sister.

The letter complained that Williams has been “partying around” since his original 2004 trial resulted in a hung jury. “Jayson Williams has been treated like a king,” she wrote. He’s “a danger to society and should not be walking the streets.” Williams was to be retried this year, but he pleaded guilty on Jan. 11. Less than a week earlier, he had been charged with DUI, which could earn him another year in jail. (More Jayson Williams stories.)