Ridiculous Williams verdict owed to celebrity, not justice

[Sir Desmond]

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Those who sat behind Jayson Williams in the courtroom and supported the former New Jersey Nets star felt an urge to cheer as the jury foreman read the verdict that may ultimately set him free.

For a moment, they expressed their joy before being silenced and admonished for their actions. Courtroom etiquette frowns on such boorish behavior because in every case involving life and death, there are winners and losers.

But what was the point of the pretense?

Other than a female juror, who reportedly wept, few others in that room cried for Costas (Gus) Christofi, the limousine driver who was found dead in Williams' master bedroom after suffering a shotgun blast to his chest on Valentine's Day 2002.

The Christofi family apparently received their justice two years ago after settling a wrongful death suit and receiving $2.75 million from Williams. As such, most family members stayed away from the trial, allowing Williams and his supporters to shape the story of what happened in the wee hours of the morning on that tragic night.

Williams' big-budget defense team tailored a tale, which depicted an unfortunate accident, a glory-seeking prosecutor who made blunders and leeching witnesses, including former Sonic Benoit Benjamin, that attempted to extort money from the defendant.

In the end, the 12-member jury sided with celebrity. </div>

<font size="1">Full Story courtesy of Percy Allen and the Seattle Times.</font>

Some real food for thought in this, a very interesting article.

 

[Ice]

Very interesting article indeed. I'd really like to know how he can be guilty of covering it up, but innocent of the crime itself. Unreal.

This quote really got me
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">"He didn't have the look of the cold-blooded killer," juror Angela Pravata, 37, told reporters outside the Somerset County Courthouse in Somerville, N.J. "I didn't see it in his eyes." </div>
Ever heard the saying 'Looks can be deceiving?'

We thought Kobe was a great man, even greater role model, and he's facing time for rape. Now, I'm not saying Kobe did it, but he did cheat on his wife. We never thought he'd do such a thing, because he didn't 'look' like that type.

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Afterward, Williams, who had been drinking, attempted to choreograph a cover up and make the shooting look like suicide. </div>
I'm pretty sure we've all been intoxicated a time or two, and we've never shot anyone. I don't care how drunk you are, you wouldn't pull out a gun do that to someone. Actually, if he was as wasted as he's playing it, he'd be next to a toilet. OR he wouldn't even be able to fuction and figure out how to load the gun. When you are drunk you tend to see things doubled, get dizzy, etc., aiming a gun would be the last thing he'd be capable of. Thats BS for him to blame it on drinking, he's giving alcohol a bad name. Not cool.

The jury saw his fame, and he has the money to get away with this.

 

[Henacy]

Well J.Will was a big part of my favorite Nets team of all-time(the 97-98 nets) So I have alot of Respect for JW . But I agree with the article as well as you guys. Jason Williams from all accounts was extremely reckless. Everybody knows that he didnt mean to kill the guy. But He also didnt have alot of respect for that guys life. It was shown threw his action before & after the death of the Limo Driver.

I think the case should have been moved out of New Jeresy. Jason Williams is so respected in that community, threw all his past charity work. It was probably hard to get a jury, who didnt know about Jason Williams as a player & charity type person. Everybody has heard the story about how J.Will took in his sisters children after they died from aids. Those type of stories have an affect on juries even before they start hearing the facts from the cases at hand.

Jason Williams is a great guy, who made a life ending mistake. And the jury pretty much let him off the hook. So I agree celebrity or not that pretty sad.

Anybody that Kills another person needs at least 10 years in prision, unless its self defense. The Jury pretty much said the same thing as Jason Williams actions that night. They basically said the Limo Drivers life was worthless.

 

[Linkin]

It looks like the Jury has more sympathy for Williams than for the Limo driver that he killed. He was guilty of covering the crime of manslaughter up but wasn't guilty of commiting manslaughter. This just pretty much says that celebrities can do the same crime as another man but will get a easier sentence.

"He didn't have the look of the cold-blooded killer,"
Does that mean if he didn't look like a cold-blooded killer, he could kill anybody without getting any consequences?
You must take responsabilities for your own actions. I just feel sad for the limo driver and his family.

 

[throwback]

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Ice:</div><div class="quote_post">I'd really like to know how he can be guilty of covering it up, but innocent of the crime itself. Unreal.</div>

you hit the nail right on the head.

i am a fan of jWill b/c when i was little i watched him play and wanted to be able to rebound and play the style he played. i would love to defend him here, but i just cant. this outcome is a disgrace to our system. this shows you that if you a lot of cash, you can pay your way out of jail/prison. it amazes me that innocent people have been framed and falsely accussed of a crime and have been sent to jail/prison, yet a man who you KNOW killed another human being is only going to get a slap on the wrist. you know he was the only holding the gun when it went off, whether it was by accident or on purpose, he has to be held accountable for. he was fooling around with a loaded gun and it went off, that recklessness with a weapon(or whatever the legal term is) and he should not be getting away this easy. he better be kissing the floor that he is not behind bars right now. the jurrors fell into the 'feel sorry for me' routine. obviously nobody thought that JayWill intended to kill Gus, but he did. i'm not saying Jay should be sent to the chair or life in prison b/c it was an accident, but he should not just get house arrest or only probation or whatever else he could be given. just another celeb beating the system.

if JayWill wasn't in Jersey, you know he would be in jail/prison. that's why kobe is in a deep hole b/c he isn't in LA were everyone loves him and "knows" him. people in COL are upset b/c they r protecting one of their own. he has to be worried.

 

[philsmith75]

I am dumbstruck by the verdict. His actions were the definition of reckless behavior and manslaughter; if this was not manslaughter, its pretty hard to say what is.

As for the crimes he was convicted of, there cannot be any doubt that he tampered with evidence and tried to coerce others to help. He should serve real prison time for those crimes, at the very minimum. I hope the judge is not blinded by celebrity and hands down a proper sentence in the state prison.

 

[throwback]

they should've moved this trial to NY or somewhere outside Jersey for a fair trial. i would be pissed if i was a family member of Gus. i feel sorry for the family, justice fk'd them over. even though they did recieve $2.75mill from Williams b/c of a wrongful death suit they had, but maybe they need the money and don't want to get too picky about things. iuno, just wrong