The Associated Press
FLEMINGTON, N.J. (AP) - The lawyer for a police officer accused of aiding in the attempted cover-up of a fatal shooting at the home of former NBA star Jayson Williams said his client’s trial will likely be delayed.
Bridgewater Township officer Eric Allena is charged with official misconduct and tampering with witnesses after a hired driver was slain at Williams’ mansion in February 2002. Allena’s trial is scheduled to start Monday, but his lawyer, Brian Neary, told The Express-Times of Easton, Pa. that he has asked for a delay and expects the trial will be rescheduled.
Neary would not say why he sought the delay, and Hunterdon County Assistant Prosecutor Katherine Errickson would not discuss the matter at length, saying only that “everyone will be in court Monday.”
Prosecutors allege Allena, 30, of Morristown, called in sick to work the morning after Costas “Gus” Christofi was killed at the Alexandria Township estate, and then talked to several witnesses to the slaying.
Williams was holding a shotgun when it fired into Christofi’s chest and killed him. Williams was acquitted in April of aggravated manslaughter, aggravated assault and possession of a weapon, but convicted of trying to cover up the shooting.
Prosecutors say witnesses told Allena about the cover-up, but the officer never arrested them for making false statements or disclosed the information.
Williams’ jury in April deadlocked on a charge of reckless manslaughter, which has led prosecutors to decide to retry him. A tentative retrial date has been set for January.