By Harriet Ryan
Court TV
SOMERVILLE, N.J. — A jury will not begin deliberating manslaughter charges against Jayson Williams until next week because of a prosecutor's illness.
Katharine Errickson, an assistant prosecutor, missed court Wednesday and Superior Court Judge Edward Coleman agreed to delay summations, originally scheduled for Thursday, until Monday to give her time to recover.
The jury is now slated to start deliberations Tuesday.
The latest hitch in the former NBA star's oft-delayed trial came as lawyers for both sides met to hammer out the details of legal instructions to be read to jurors.
Williams opted not to come to court for the highly technical discussions. He faces 55 years in prison if convicted of aggravated manslaughter and seven other counts in connection with the shooting death of driver Costas "Gus" Christofi at his mansion Feb. 14, 2002.
Prosecutors contend he was reckless when he toyed with the 12-gauge shotgun while giving guests a tour of his home.
Williams insists the shooting was an unforeseeable accident caused by a mechanical malfunction in the weapon.
He also is accused of trying to cover up the shooting to make it look like a suicide.
 | | Prosecutor Steven Lember objected to the wording of instructions the judge will give to Jayson Williams' jury. |
Lead prosecutor Steven Lember clashed with defense lawyers during Wednesday's discussions about the precise wording of instructions Coleman will give panelists just before they commence weighing evidence.
Among the contested issues was how far the judge should go in explaining the circumstances under which Williams should be acquitted of the top count, aggravated manslaughter, and its lesser offense, reckless manslaughter.
To convict Williams of reckless manslaughter, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, the jury must find he acted recklessly. For the more serious charge, aggravated manslaughter, which carries up to 30 years in prison, the jury must find he also demonstrated a disregard for human life.
Over the objections of the prosecutor, the judge said he would tell the jurors that if they found Williams only showed negligence and not recklessness, they should find him not guilty.
In addition, the judge said, he would instruct the jury that "if the state has proven the death of Mr. Christofi was only an accident, then you must find him not guilty."
Wednesday's proceeding was so dry that the judge interrupted the discussions at one point and asked the row of reporters in the back of the court, "What are you going to write about today?"
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