Judge to consider sentencing ex-NBA basketballer Jayson Williams

[The Bobster]

http://customwire.ap.org/dynamic/stories/B...EMPLATE=DEFAULT

Witness: Williams Tried to Plant Prints

By JEFFREY GOLD
Associated Press Writer

SOMERVILLE, N.J. (AP) -- A key prosecution witness in the manslaughter trial of Jayson Williams told jurors Monday the former NBA star attempted to transfer a slain driver's fingerprints to his shotgun moments after the fatal shot was fired.

Kent Culuko, a friend of Williams, said he was standing by the door of a bedroom and that Williams uttered an expletive moments before driver Costas &q
ot;Gus" Christofi was killed with single shotgun blast.

Culuko said Williams ordered him to move the shotgun after "trying to lightly touch Gus's fingerprints to the gun."

H
is t
estimony was the first by someone present in Williams' bedroom since the trial start
ed three weeks ago.

Williams, retired center for the New Jersey Nets, is accused of recklessly handling his shotgun, and then attempting to make the shooting look like a suicide and persuading others to lie that they were downstairs when Christofi was shot in the early hours of Feb. 14, 2002.

Williams' defense maintains that the shooting was an accident, suggesting he did not know Christofi had entered the room and that the weapon malfunctioned.

Defense lawyers are attempting to show that Culuko, not Williams, organized a failed cover-up, based on cross-examination of many of the prosecution's 20 witnesses to date.

Last week, two state troopers and two friends, including Culuko
's brother, testified they heard Williams order his guests not to talk to police about the shooting until his lawyer arrived.

Three witnesses said they entered the bedroom after the shooting
and saw Will
iams wiping down the shotgun, with two saying they saw him try to put it in the hands of the dying man. On
e of the three witnesses said they also saw Culuko wipe the shotgun, while another said they saw Culuko handle the shotgun.

Culuko, who pleaded guilty to evidence and witness tampering, faces probation under a deal with prosecutors.

Williams, 36, faces eight charges, including aggravated manslaughter and witness tampering, that could carry up to 55 years in prison. The least of the charges carries a penalty of up to 18 months in prison, but would likely result in probation.

Williams retired from the Nets in 2000 after a decade in the NBA, unable to overcome a broken leg. He was suspended from his job as an NBA analyst for NBC after the shooting.

Copyright 2004 Ass
ociated Press. All rights reserved.

[Rasp]

Judge sides with Hunterdon in dispute over Jayson Williams slur

A state appeals judge granted today a request by the Hunterdon County Prosecutor's Office to seal records related to a racial slur an official used to describe former New Jersey Net Jayson Williams before the athlete's 2004 manslaughter trial. [Nigger perhaps?]

The ruling follows a Dec. 13 hearing in state Superior Court Judge Edward M. Coleman's Somerville courtroom, where legal teams for both sides argued over how the documents could affect a potential retrial.

Prosecutors, who said the unidentified officer maintained only a marginal role in the case by transporting sealed evidence, argued that his words did not impact Williams' guilt or innocence.

Defense attorneys countered that they were entitled to review details of the epithet in advance of a retrial to possibly discredit the state's handling of the case.

Coleman ordered prosecutors to disclose the related documents and invited both sides to review the material in private.

The epithet was revealed by Hunterdon County Prosecutor J. Patrick Barnes, who alerted the judge in an October letter that a former "superior officer" admitted to using the unspecified slur in a 2002 meeting.

On Jan. 2, the prosecutor's office challenged Coleman's ruling to disclose the documents by filing a motion for leave to appeal. On Jan. 18, defense attorneys responded.

Appellate Division Judge Dorothea O'C. Wefing today sided with the state, granting its motion and sealing the entire record related the slur, according to court officials.

The state's motion delayed Williams' retrial -- originally scheduled to begin this month -- until at least May to give the higher court time to decide whether it would grant or deny the motion to appeal.

Williams, 39, will likely be retried on a reckless manslaughter charge in connection with the shooting death of 55-year-old Costas "Gus" Christofi at the athlete's former Alexandria estate in 2002.

The former NBA star was convicted nearly four years ago of attempting to cover up the incident, but jurors couldn't reach a verdict on the charge of reckless manslaughter, voting 8-4 in favor of acquittal. Williams was cleared of aggravated manslaughter and other charges.

His lawyers argued that the shooting was accidental and said Williams panicked afterward. He remains free on bail and has yet to be sentenced on the four cover-up convictions.

[Cali4yaokie]

Supreme Court will hear arguments on racial slur in Jayson Williams case

Tuesday November 25, 2008, 12:30 PM

The state Supreme Court has agreed to hear arguments from the Hunterdon County Prosecutor's Office and Jayson Williams' lawyers over whether information about a racial slur an officer used to describe the ex-New Jersey Net should become part of his upcoming retrial for reckless manslaughter.

The clerk of the top court will schedule the matter for oral argument at the earliest available date, according to the Administrative Office of the Courts.

Since last December, the prosecution has been fighting to keep the information sealed. The incident occurred in 2002, when the investigator used the epithet to describe Williams during a meeting within the prosecutor's office after the former basketball pro was accused in the death of Costas "Gus" Christofi, 55.

The prosecution insists the man, who no longer works for the office, was not an integral part of the investigation. He did not testify in the first trial in 2004 and won't be called as a witness at the next. Prosecutor J. Patrick Barnes brought the incident to Superior Court Judge Edward Coleman's attention last year, as the state was preparing to retry Williams for reckless manslaughter. Coleman issued an order in December, requiring the state to disclose the identity of individuals who were present during the meeting and all notes and documents relating to the issues discussed during the 2002 meeting.

A panel of Appellate Judges upheld that ruling in September. Williams' defense lawyer Joseph Hayden Jr. has argued that the defense has no way of knowing what impact the officer's comments had on others or the investigation and subsequent trial. In the majority opinion, the appellate judges said the defense has the right to know if others accepted or tolerated the comments.

Williams, 40, is accused of recklessly handling a shotgun that fired and fatally struck the limousine driver at Williams former estate in Alexandria Township on Feb. 14, 2002.

He first went to trial in 2004, and the jury cleared him of the most serious offenses, but found him guilty of trying to cover up the shooting. Reckless manslaughter is the only charge on which they could not agree.

Race Card, isn't it just great!

[awyattmann]

http://www.nypost.com/seven/01132009...oul_149982.htm


WARNING- THE FOLLOWING IS FILTHY, INVOLVING NIGGER AND JEW QUEER SEX!

Knick center Eddy Curry was slapped with a shocking sexual-harassment suit yesterday by his former driver, who claims the 6-foot-11 hoopster tried to solicit gay sex from him.

Stunning court papers charge that Curry, a married father of several kids, repeatedly approached chauffeur David Kuchinsky "in the nude," saying, "Look at me, Dave, look" and, "Come and touch it, Dave."


Curry, 26, also made Kuchinsky perform "humiliating tasks outside the scope of his employment, such as cleaning up and removing dirty towels [into which Curry had ejaculated] so that his wife would not see them," the Manhattan federal court suit says.

Kuchinsky, 36, who is straight and Jewish,
also alleges racism, saying Curry hurled slurs at him, including "f- - - ing Jew," "cracker," "white slave," "white devil" and "grandmaster of the KKK."

Curry, a former Chicago Bull, said last night he was "shocked" at the allegations. "It's false, and everyone who knows me knows I'm not a racist," he said after the Knicks beat the Hornets in New Orleans. "I've never made a comment like that, playing, or nothing. . . . That's incredible, man."

The sexual allegations recall a 2006 lawsuit by Knicks marketing VP Anucha Browne Sanders, who claimed then-General Manager Isiah Thomas made advances on her. She settled for $11.5 million after winning at trial.

And in an episode reminiscent of some elements of the manslaughter case against former New Jersey Net star Jayson Williams - who fatally shot a limo driver - Kuchinsky's suit also claims Curry pointed a "fully loaded" gun at him on at least two occasions.

"Look, I have one in the chamber," Curry allegedly said.

Kuchinsky
, who worked for Curry from October 2005 through October 2008, says he was hired as a 24/7 chauffeur for the hoop star and his family, and lived in the basement of their Chicago mansion.

But shortly after starting work, he "progressively became Curry's 'house-boy,' " his suit says.

He wants $98,000 plus compensatory damages from the Knick, whose contract pays him $9.4 million this year. Damage claims typically can go up to $5 million in state court, Kuchinsky's lawyer said.

Kuchinsky says he is owed $68,000 in unpaid wages, as well as $25,000 in expenses for which Curry never repaid him. Those expenses, he said, included cellphones that Curry had him buy as gifts and hotel and club bills. "Instead of paying him, they discriminated against him," said Kuchinsky's lawyer, Matthew Blit. "Imagine going into your boss' office . . . and he stands up and drops his pants and he asks you [to] take care of him."

Curry, who has played just 2 minutes, 38 seconds this season because of kne
e injuries, said last night that Kuchinsky had contacted a friend of his, "and every time, it was something different."

"First time, it was to curse me out," Curry said. "Second time, it was to apologize. Third time, it was 'If Eddy doesn't call me, I'm going to sue him.' I just never, ever thought it would go past what it did, which was just idle threats, money-or-else kind of stuff."

Curry's lawyer, Kelly Saindon, said Kuchinsky began making a series of claims for unpaid wages several months ago, upping the ante each time. Saindon said Curry took a chance on hiring Kuchinsky despite the driver's criminal record, which includes a three-year prison sentence for a 1992 burglary in New Jersey. He also got three years' probation in a 2004 resisting-arrest case in the Garden State, records show.

"It's shocking that Eddy opened his home to a convicted felon out of prison, and gave him a job when he couldn't find a job, and this is what comes out of it," Saindon said.

Kuchinskys lawyer conceded his client's "troubled past," but said that was all behind him.

[The Bobster]

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/ba...ade_sexua.html

Driver says Knicks' Eddy Curry made sexual advances at him
BY THOMAS ZAMBITO
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER

Monday, January 12th 2009, 11:55 PM

Knicks center Eddy Curry's former driver is charging in a lawsuit that the basketball star made sexual advances at him, forced him to perform demeaning tasks and twice pointed a gun at him.

Ex-driver David Kuchinsky said in a suit filed Monday in Manhattan Federal Court that Curry came on to him while naked and subjected him to full-court press of humiliation.

"There were also a lot of religious and racial epithets," said Kuchinsky's lawyer Matthew Blit, who is seeking $68,000 his client is owed for driving Curry in Illinois between 2005 and last fall.
n
Last night, the Knicks player, who is riding the bench with a knee injury, said he was shocked by the suit.

"Everybody knows that I'm not racist," Curry said, calling all of Kuchinsky's allegations false. "Never have I made a comment like that. It's incredible.

"I can't believe it went this far."

Curry said Kuchinsky has been making idle threats and money demands for several months, since Curry fired him.

"I guess this is just a prime example of you just gotta watch who you have around you," he said.

Curry's attorney, Kelly Saindon, characterized the lawsuit, which also charged Curry made Kuchinsky clean up towels soiled by sex acts, as an extortion try.

The 6-foot-11 Curry has played in just one game this season. He missed Monday night's game in New Orleans against the Hornets.

Curry's wife and three kids attend most Knicks games.

In 2007, Curry, his wife and an employee were bound and robbed at gunpoint in the family's suburban Chi
cago mansion by three gun-wielding thugs. Kuchinsky was at the home and was pistol-whipped, Saindon said.

[Rasp]

NBA player's ex slain in Chicago

CHICAGO - A woman found shot to death in an apartment night was a former girlfriend of New York Knicks player Eddy Curry and the mother of his 3-year-old son, Curry's attorney said yesterday.

A relative found the bodies of Nova Henry, 24, and her 9-month-old daughter, Ava, in their apartment Saturday evening, Chicago police spokeswoman Monique Bond said. Both died from multiple gunshot wounds, the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office said yesterday.

Curry's son was found unharmed, but, according to reports, witnessed the killings.

The Chicago Tribune said police are searching for a "known acquaintance" of Henry's in connection with the killing. The Associated Press reporte
d that police believe the murders were the result of a domestic dispute.

Henry's mother found the bodies in the apartment about 6 p.m. Saturday.

Curry, who formerly played for the Chicago Bulls, was with the Knicks in Philadelphia Saturday for their 116-110 loss to the 76ers. He did not play in the game because of a sore knee. Teammates said he was emotional when informed about the situation after the game. Curry's attorney, Kelly Saindon, said Curry's family was devastated by the news.

Curry was not available for comment yesterday because the Knicks did not practice.

Several of his teammates were concerned for Curry and the Henry family.

"We just told him we support him," Jared Jeffries said. "Our prayers are with all of them."

The Knicks yesterday released a statement on behalf of Curry which said: "The Curry family is deeply saddened by this tragic loss and will keep the Henry family in their prayers. This is a police matter and we ask that the media respec
t the privacy of both families during this time of mourning."

Curry is married and, according to the team's media guide, has four children - Eddy III, 6, Reign, 5, Reigan, 3, and Reiganna, 2.

He and his wife, Patrice, live in Burr Ridge, Ill., during the offseason and in Westchester, N.Y., during the NBA season.

Two weeks ago, Curry's former driver, David Kuchinsky, filed a sexual-harassment lawsuit against him. Saindon said Curryplans to file a countersuit.

In July 2007, Curry was the victim of a home invasion in Illinois in which he and his wife were held at gunpoint and tied up. The three assailants made off with cash and jewelry. A month later, four young members of a Chicago-area gang were arrested in the incident.

Curry has appeared in just one game this season because of chronic knee troubles and conditioning issues.

Police believe the killings near the city's South Side were the result of a domestic dispute, Bond said. She would not elaborate.

R
ob Bryant, who said he was Nova Henry's uncle, told the Chicago Sun-Times that Henry had a restraining order against her boyfriend.

[Johnny99]

Can anyone sort out this bucks fambly tree? Is the 3 yr. old who witnessed the killings the same 3 yr. old mentioned as one of the 4 chillins or is he another 3 yr. old meaning Curry has 5 spawn(or maybe more)?

[The Bobster]

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2009...was_murde.html

Report claims Knick Eddy Curry was murdered baby's father
By CORKY SIEMASZKO
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER

Updated Wednesday, January 28th 2009, 11:02 PM


The Chicago Sun-Times has reported that a source has outed Knicks center Eddy Curry as the father of Nine-month-old Ava Goings, who was murdered with her mother this past weekend.


Knicks center Eddy Curry didn't just lose his 3-year-old son's mother to a brutal murderer - he lost a daughter, too, it was reported Wednesday night.

Nine-month-old Ava Goings, who was fatally shot along with her mother, Nova Henry, was also Curry's child, the Chicago Sun-Times reported Wed
nesday night.

Curry has publicly admitted fathering Henry's son, Noah, who survived the massacre last Saturday. He had long denied being Ava's dad.

Citing a source familiar with the paternity case Henry lodged against Curry, the Sun-Times says DNA tests confirmed the NBA star was also Ava's father.

Based on that finding, Curry was ordered in September to increase the $6,000 in monthly child support he had been paying Henry for Noah Curry's care to $15,000, the source said.

"I'm sure Eddy knows the truth," said Tom Henry, who was Nova Henry's stepuncle. "From what I understand, there was a recent DNA test that proved Eddy was Ava's father, and he did the right thing by his daughter."

In the sealed court papers, Ava bears the last name of the man Nova Henry's family believes is the murderer - 36-year-old Chicago lawyer Fredrick Goings.

Nova Henry, 24, lived for a time with Goings - over Curry's objections - and he helped prepare the paternity paper
work, relatives said.

Curry, 28, who is married and has four other children with his wife, Patrice, could not be located for comment.

His lawyer, Kelly Saindon, did not return a call or e-mail for comment.

Nova Henry's family began blaming Goings shortly after a blood-smeared Noah was found alone with the bodies in his mother's condo just south of The Loop.

"Fred did it," the little boy has told relatives, according to Tom Henry.

Calling Goings a violent stalker, the Henry family pointed to court records that revealed that Nova Henry took out a restraining order against him in 2006.

Goings was released after he was questioned this week and has not been seen since.

Curry, who grew up and has his house in the south suburbs of Chicago, flew home Tuesday. But it wasn't clear if he has been reunited with young Noah.

The boy's maternal grandmother was awarded custody by a Chicago court earlier this week.

Lawyer Michael Kalcheim, who repr
esented Nova Henry in two paternity cases against Curry, told the Sun-Times the boy will be returned to his father's care.

Curry was expected to be at the 10 a.m. wake for Nova Henry and Ava on Saturday at the W.W. Holt Funeral Home in Markham, Ill. A funeral service will follow at 11 a.m. at Calvary Baptist Church in Glenwood, Ill.

[awyattmann]

Like a nigger soap opera!

[White Sail]

http://www.suntimes.com/news/24-7/14...022109.article

Man in custody for murders of Eddy Curry's ex, baby daughter
February 21, 2009
BY ANNIE SWEENEY AND DAN ROZEK Staff Reporters

A former boyfriend of Nova Henry has been taken into custody by police investigating the fatal shootings of Henry — ex-girlfriend of former Chicago Bull Eddy Curry — and her baby daughter, sources said today.

The man, who has not been formally charged in the January slayings, was grabbed by Chicago police without incident Friday night on the city’s South Side, sources said.

An arrest has been made in the killings of Nova Henry and her daughter, Ava Henry. The
y were found shot to death in the South Loop Jan. 24. (Handout photo)

The break in the high-profile case came after cell-phone records and physical evidence helped link the man to the killings, sources said.

Police confirmed today that a man has been taken into custody in connection with the double murder but they have not confirmed his identity.

Henry, 24, and Curry's daughter, Ava, were found shot to death on Jan. 24 in their Near South Side condo, while Henry’s 3-year-old son was found unharmed in the home. Curry, a one-time Bulls star who now plays for the New York Knicks, also is the father of the boy.

Henry and her former boyfriend — a lawyer who had represented her in a paternity case with Curry — had quarreled on the day she was found slain, according to a preliminary report on the shootings.

A possible cause of the dispute is that her ex-boyfriend claimed Henry still owed him money for his legal
representation in her dispute with Curry, sources said.

Henry’s ex-boyfriend originally was arrested in Michigan City, Ind. a day after the deadly shootings, and charged with trespassing at a hotel. He was questioned extensively by Chicago police at that time, but later released.

Court records indicate Henry’s ex-boyfriend had once choked her and also had threatened to shoot a family member.