Williams Witness to Testify

A former college basketball player will testify against Jayson Williams under a plea bargain in the case of a limousine driver shot to death inside the former NBA All-Star’s estate.

Kent Culuko, 29, pleaded guilty Thursday in Superior Court in Flemington to tampering with evidence and witnesses. He agreed to testify against Williams and co-defendant John Gordnick, 44, and could avoid serving any time in jail under a provision of a state law for first-time offenders.

Culuko, who played at James Madison, admitted in court that he wiped the gun and moved it after the shooting and told the other people in the room to say they were downstairs when it happened. Culuko said he did these things at Williams’ request.

Williams is charged with manslaughter in the Feb. 14 death of limo driver Costas Christofi. Prosecutors say the co-defendants, both friends of Williams, tampered with evidence to make it look as if the victim, not the former New Jersey Net, fired the gun.

Culuko’s lawyer said his client soon backed off that claim.