The man Jayson Williams killed (Gus Christofi)

[dsc]

I honestly hadn't followed this case much. I am not a basketball fan and try to stay away from crime stories. But my dad told me about this one and it sort of struck home.

For those who haven't followed the case Jayson Williams was found guilty of cover up type crimes but the jury hung on the reckless homicide charge. Jayson was drunk and accidently shot Gus at his house after a night of partying. Apparently he felt Gus might be a federal agent of some sort.

Link to picture and great story

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/story/191521p-165560c.html

Link to story by Riley of Sports Illustrated sorry need to be subscriber

http://premium.si.cnn.com/pr/subs/siexclusive/rick_reilly/2004/05/18/reilly0524/

See, that's the funny thing. Gus Christofi was about as far from suicide that day as a man could be. The day before you blasted him with your shotgun, his sister agreed to cosign a loan for him. Gus was so pumped. He was going to own his first house. At age 55.

Gus's life really didn't begin until about 10 years ago, when he finally beat alcoholism and heroin addiction. He went to a New Jersey rehab center called Freedom House for 18 months and emerged such a changed man that the place hired him as a counselor. Recovering addicts could count on Gus to take the phone call, jump in his beat-up old Plymouth and come over with enough coffee and patience and love to get them through a wicked night.

You should've seen the funeral, Jayson. It was packed. Hundreds of people, many of whom Gus's relatives didn't even know. "I can't even tell you how many people came up to me and said, 'Your uncle saved my life,'" says Anthony Christofi Jr., Gus's nephew. "Or they said, 'Your uncle saved my boy's life.' It was amazing."

Really, life was just about as good as it had ever been for Gus that night. He was sober, reunited with his family and doing great at the limo company. In fact, he was so well-liked there that when the job came up to drive your party from a Globetrotters game to a restaurant, the owner surprised Gus with the trip, seeing as how Gus was such a huge sports fan.

Gus even bought one of those little disposable cameras to take a few pictures. Of course, maybe it wasn't such a Kodak moment when you -- as people later testified -- made fun of Gus, swore at him, called him a "stoolie" and a "fed," and, when Gus got up to leave the restaurant, told him, "Sit back down and get your shine box, kid." Then you said, "I'm only kidding with you, man." Hilarious

more at article

We really haven't heard much about this case. What little I knew about it revolved around the crime and Jayson. Certainly this didn't get the coverage that Nicole and Ron got. Maybe Gus just wasn't beautiful enough. Evidently Gus had had a very rough life. He was homeless for some of his life. Drugs and booze can take you places no sane person would want to go. I can't say I went everywhere Gus went but I can say I got a taste and a taste was enough for me. Maybe more of you knew this mans story than I honestly think did. If so, I both apologize for the post and am truely glad to have been wrong. Somehow I think most people didn't know about Gus' story. He was living one hell of a third act when he got cut down. I hope Jayson gets convicted the second time.

[dsc]

1. kick

[NEOBuckeye]

2. Tragic story

I couldn't read the rest of the article via the SI link, since they require a membership, and I don't subscribe to the mag. Maybe I'll check it out next time I stop at the library.

That is a real shame, though. Gus Christofi comes back from the brink, even to spread good will, kindness and help others, only to be killed by an arrogant, worthless jackass like Jayson Williams. Maybe somehow, it was karma coming to call for Christofi's past, but it doesn't seem fair. Not for this man. Not for his family, and not for the people whom he was able to touch.

Gotta love media bias.

[dsc]

3. sorry you couldn't read it

Most of the rest was about Williams anyway but Riley is a great writer. It is so sad to see this happen but even worse to see his life get no real press. Freedom House is the toughest of tough crowds.

[dsc]

5. BTW

The first link has a great story as well. You should read it.

[dae]

4. Like you dsc, I never followed the story. Not till I clicked on this

thread and read the article in Daily News did I know any thing about Gus.
Thanks for posting.

[KT2000]

6. Thanks for posting this

I saw some of the trial on Court Tv. One thing you can count on is that Jayson Williams will be in trouble with guns again. It is just sickening that he wasn't convicted on manslaughter.

Williams has used a gun in that past - been in trouble with the law over it. He once shot his dog in the head because the dog didn't do what Williams wanted him to, to win a bet. This guy is a sicko but he is also handsome, a celebrity jock and he also wore a cross on his lapel all during the trial.

[progressivebydesign]

7. I heard they are going to retry him on the manslaughter charge..

.. they should, if they could. The fact that Williams thought this poor man was a "fed", and STILL shot him.. speaks volumes. He didn't accidentally shoot him, give me a break. He will be in trouble again.. that's a sure bet.

Shot a dog? What a true Christian... just like the Iraqi abuser. Sick people getting away with murder.

[Awsi Dooger]

8. I watched the entire trial and Williams is guilty as hell

He didn't pretend to care about Gus after the shooting, more concerned with wiping prints onto Gus' hands, taking a pool dip to get rid of residue, coming up with cover stories, etc. He was sobbing, "I've ruined my life," or something like that, instead of calling 911 or providing aid to Gus.

Unfortuntely, the damn judge was sickeningly pro-defense, not allowing into evidence past evidence of Williams' abuse of guns, including killing his own dog. The judge also did not allow evidence that Williams was likely drunk at the time of the shooting. A blood alcohol test was not taken until the following morning, for some inane reason.

As someone said on Court TV Friday, how can a jury rationalize convicting someone of tampering with evidence and covering up a crime when they have decided it was not a crime in the first place?

[dsc]

9. the same way that the feds charged Stewart

She lied to investigators which is what she was charged with. She probably hadn't engaged in inside trading. Here the jury appaently believed that the shooting wasn't a crime but that Williams clearly tampered with evidence.

[NicRic]

10. Wife followed closely !

My wife works swing shift and was watching this case on Court TV every day, I would get home from work in early afternoon and catch up on what happen in court that day The sad thing about the whole thing ,is it seemed the vitum Gus was forgotten about ,everyone was being to star struck by Jason ! From what I took away from this case ,was that Jayson ,is a arrogant ass ,that thinks his $ makes him better then others and gives him a right to treat others with disrepect! I cannot believe the jury let him walk on the most serious charge ,this guy needs to do some jail time and get toliet cleaning duty ,to bring his feet back down to earth ,if thats even possible. Also Iam sick a tired of the attorney's ,always trying to turn these cases into some kind of race thing .I know there is still unfairness in our legal system ,due to social staus and race ,however these stars are more often then not given the benifit of doubt ,more so then anyone else ,no matter what race they are. Iam sick of these spoiled over paid pros ,acting like Gods gift to the world, and thinking they can walk thru life treating others rudely. I say throw the book at him !