Prosecutor not ready to file charges in killing of limo driver hired by NBA player

Monday, February 18th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

ALEXANDRIA TOWNSHIP, N.J. (AP) _ A prosecutor said he had no immediate plans to file charges in the fatal shooting of a limousine driver who worked for former NBA player Jayson Williams.

The Star-Ledger of Newark, The Record of Hackensack and several broadcast stations have reported that unidentified law enforcement sources told them Williams, 33, accidentally fired the gun.

The Star-Ledger reported Williams was playing with the shotgun at his mansion when it went off. A lawyer for Williams denied the report.

``There is no basis in fact for any allegation that Mr. Williams was involved in any horseplay with a gun,'' Joseph Hayden, told the newspaper for Sunday's editions. ``There was no purposeful or reckless behavior on Mr. Williams' part.''

Acting Hunterdon County Prosecutor Steven C. Lember said Sunday that he was not ready to say who fired the fatal shot.

``I still have to review reports and statements before I can even consider it,'' he said.

Lember has said Williams, his brother Vincent and about 10 guests were in the house at the time.

Authorities were called to Williams' 65-acre estate early Thursday and found Costas Christofi, 55, in a bedroom with a gunshot wound to his chest. Authorities have said the shotgun appeared to be one of several owned by Williams.

Investigators quickly ruled out suicide, and the death was classified as suspicious after a preliminary review by the medical examiner.

Christofi had been hired by Williams to take friends from a charity sporting event featuring the Harlem Globetrotters in Bethlehem, Pa., to a restaurant, and then to Williams' home, about 30 miles northwest of Trenton.

The 6-foot-10 Williams was once among the NBA's best rebounders, but leg injuries ended his basketball career. He retired in 1999 and now works for NBC Sports as an NBA studio analyst. +