By Nina Mandell
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
Former Nets star Jayson Williams was sentenced Tuesday to five years in prison for attempting to cover up the accidental shooting of his limo driver.
Williams accidentally firing a shotgun at his New Jersey mansion, killing his limo driver Costas "Gus" Chistofi in February 2002.
The former Nets center reportedly tried to cover up the crime by taking his clothes off and jumping into a pool to wash off the victim’s blood. He then put the gun into the victim’s hands to make it look like a suicide.
The 6-foot-11 Williams was acquitted of aggravated manslaughter in 2004 in relation to the shooting. He reached a plea deal with prosecutors last month on the charges related to covering up the crime and was out on a bond.
Williams, who turned 42 on Monday, is still facing more prison time on DWI charges after driving his car into a tree in Manhattan last month.
At his sentencing, Williams apologized to his family saying they “deserve a better father, son brother than I’ve been,” according to the New York Post.
He also apologized to the family of the victim, who seemed outraged over his short sentence, the Post said.
“I’m terribly sorry,” Williams said to Christofi's. I’m not a bad man, but I acted badly …”
