FLEMINGTON, New Jersey (AP) — A prosecutor told a state appeals court Wednesday that a 911 tape made after a fatal shooting at former basketball star Jayson Williams' estate is evidence that should not yet be made public.

Releasing the tape could also make it difficult to pick a jury and would go against the wishes of the victim's family, said Steven C. Lember, first assistant Hunterdon County prosecutor.

Attorneys for the Courier News of Bridgewater, which is seeking the release of the tape, argued that it should be made public under New Jersey's open public records law.

Public access to the information should not be determined at the prosecutor's discretion, said attorney John Connell.

The appeals court set no date for a ruling.

Williams, 35, is charged with first-degree manslaughter and other offenses in the Feb. 14, 2002, shooting death of limousine driver Costas Christofi. He could face nearly 55 years in prison if convicted on all counts.

The 6-foot-10 Williams was among the NBA's best rebounders when leg injuries led to his retirement from the New Jersey Nets in 2000. After the shooting, he was suspended from his job as an NBA analyst for NBC.