SOMERVILLE, N.J. (AP) — Former NBA star Jayson Williams' trial in the death of a limousine driver will be moved to a neighboring county because of heavy publicity about the case.

Judge Edward Coleman on Thursday directed that the trial, tentatively scheduled to begin in January, be held in Somerset County instead of Hunterdon County.

Williams, 35, is accused of recklessly handling the shotgun that killed limousine driver Costas Christofi in 2002 at Williams' Alexandria Township home. He could get nearly 55 years in prison on the charges, the most serious of which is aggravated manslaughter.

Defense lawyers had asked for the move, saying the "avalanche of publicity" would prevent the seating of an unbiased jury.

The defense said news stories about Williams "contained inaccurate and highly prejudicial information which would be inadmissible at trial."

A survey conducted by defense consultants found the percentage of residents inclined to believe Williams is guilty was nearly twice as high in Hunterdon County as in Mercer or Bergen counties, defense lawyers said.

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.