Analysis of Televised Court Case

The case is the State of New Jersey versus Jayson Williams, a 36-year-old former basketball star. The case appeared on Court TV for the entire week of April 16, 2004, and will continue into the next week. The judge presiding over the trial is State Superior Court Judge Edward Coleman and his courtroom is in the Somerset County Courthouse in Somerville, New Jersey. Williams, 36, is charged with several crimes arising from an incident on February 14, 2002, in which he shot Costas "Gus" Christofi, a 55-year-old limo driver, and then tried to make the shooting appear to be a suicide. By the time the defense rested, the litigants had called 43 witnesses and the trial had already lasted 11 weeks.

The State of New Jersey has charged Williams with eight crimes: (1) Aggravated Manslaughter - 1st Degree; (2) Reckless Manslaughter - 2nd Degree; (3) Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose - 2nd Degree; (4) Aggravated Assault - 4th Degree; (5) Hindering Apprehension - 3rd Degree; (6) Tampering with a Witness - 3rd Degree; (7) Tampering with Evidence - 4th Degree; and (8) Fabricating Physical Evidence - 4th Degree.

According to section 2C: 11-4 of the New Jersey Code of Criminal Justice, a criminal homicide constitutes aggravated manslaughter when the accused recklessly causes death under circumstances that demonstrate an extreme indifference to human life. Section 2C: 11-4 also states that a criminal homicide constitutes manslaughter when it

Related Essays

The Public Figure Doctrine and Professionals Thi .... As for the fourth step in the analysis, that the .... and had appeared on a nationally- televised program discussing .... with a different result, the Court of Appeals .... (4511 18 )

Involuntary Holding of Dangerous Offenders .... The federal Court of Appeals refused permission to televise .... of show business: Reflections on televised executions .... is based on cross-cultural analysis, but then .... (1690 7 )

Criminal Justice .... Simpson came to court with an added presumption of innocence .... addition to this, when events are televised live like .... the air" (Siegel 1). In this analysis we can .... (1954 8 )

The Death Penalty and Exucutions .... penalty question in the second televised presidential debate .... were commuted by the 1972 Supreme Court decision .... would defend its implications upon closer analysis. .... (4730 19 )

Ramifications of Watergate .... a crisis in racism, the televised hearings created .... The Supreme Court became involved, voting eight to .... Post-Watergate analysis has ranged from political effects .... (2412 10 )

s is convicted he must serve the full term with no possibility of an early release. Section 2C:29-3 NJSA essentially defines hindering apprehension as any act intended to impair the investigation of a crime. The prosecution charged this crime and offered witness testimony that Williams asked people to lie to the police about how Christofi had been shot. Several witnesses also testified that William swam in the pool after the shooting to clean himself off and then had one of the people present dispose of the clothing he wore during the shooting. The other two charges are also related to this conduct. Section 2C:28-5 NJSA states that the third degree crime of tampering with witnesses occurs when a person knowingly tries to cause a witness to testify falsely, withhold information, or avoid the legal process. In addition, section 2C:28-6 states that tampering with or fabricating physical evidence in the fourth degree occurs when a person either creates or destroys anything of physical substance with the intention of impairing the investigation. Crimes in the third degree are punishable by imprisonment between 3 and 5 years while fourth degree offenses are punishable by imprisonment of up to 18 months. Altogether, Williams c

Category: Government - A