Jayson

Williams

Prosecutors want the retrial because the jury didn’t reach a verdict on the reckless manslaughter charge. The former NBA player could face up to five years in prison when sentenced on the coverup charges. Reckless manslaughter carries up to 10 years.

He’s also been in contact with the Trail Blazers. Williams has waited until now to attempt a comeback because his $86 million contract is finally expiring. If Williams does get picked up by an NBA team, he’d probably have a very limited role.

“He wants to play,” coach Paul Silas said. “We worked him out a little bit, and he can still play. He can certainly help somebody.” Silas didn’t know whether that team would be Cleveland.

Williams, who still faces a retrial on a charge of reckless manslaughter, is trying to find a path back into the NBA. He reportedly looked good back in an October workout with Cleveland.

Williams’ defense lawyers contend the information could have been used during the first trial to discredit the prosecution’s case. Williams was originally acquitted of aggravated manslaughter, but convicted on four counts for covering-up the driver’s death. He now stands accused of reckless manslaughter, which the original jury could not reach a unanimous decision on.

Jury selection was scheduled to begin on Monday, but evidence regarding a racial slur used by a police officer involved in the case was enough to delay proceedings. Mark Fuhrman, anyone?

In 2002 Williams was tried on charges of accidentally killing limo driver Costas “Gus” Christofi, and is awaiting a retrial for a reckless manslaughter charge. In addition, he’s currently going through a messy divorce.

Williams is already facing a retrial on charges of reckless manslaughter in the 2002 shooting death of his driver. A friend recently reported he was acting suicidal, but Williams resisted police efforts to take him to a hospital and he was eventually tazed into submission.

Williams’ attorneys attempted to prove that racial bias and misconduct by the prosecution tainted the trial. Williams is currently facing manslaughter charges stemming from the shooting death of his driver in 2002.

Williams is still facing a retrial for reckless manslaughter charges from 2002. Last year his wife filed for divorce, police used a stun gun on him after he was reportedly acting suicidal, and he was charged with assault for punching a man. He also lost his father in November.