Former New Jersey Nets star Jayson Williams released from prison

Former New Jersey Nets star Jayson Williams was released from prison Friday, just eight months into a one-year sentence for DWI and after serving 18 months in a New Jersey prison beforehand for his role in the shooting death of limousine driver Costas “Gus” Chrstofi in 2002, The Star-Ledger reported.

Williams was listed as released by the New York City Corrections website Friday.

The end of Williams’ time behind bars closes a tragedy that started when a shotgun Williams handled in February 2002 discharged in Christofi’s chest, killing Christofi outside his Williams' New Jersey home.

A 2004 trial found Williams guilty of trying to cover up the incident, but the jury was hung on a charge of reckless manslaughter. Williams accepted a plea deal for a minimum of 18 months in prison. But before he accepted that deal, he was arrested in January 2010 in Manhattan for DWI and then sentenced to a year in prison for that offense.

Williams became an NBA All-Star with the Nets in 1998, but his career ended in 2000 as a result of breaking his leg in a collision with teammate Stephon Marbury.

Williams was not available for comment.