The daughters of former NBA All-Star Jason Williams have slammed St. John’s University’s decision. induct one’s father into the school’s track and field hall of fame because of accusations of neglecting the next life His role in the 2002 limousine driver shooting.
with triumph Wisdom Williams both wrote an open letter they sent to the Associated Press on Fridayalso scheduled to be sent to St. John’s, said the school should be ashamed of his introduction to the class during Homecoming weekend on Saturday.
Williams, 54, has served more than a year in prison for being killed by an accidental shotgun at the mansion of driver Costas Christofi in New Jersey.
Whizdom J Williams, an 18-year-old student at the Fashion Institute of Technology, accused her father of being an alcoholic and of being “a lazy father with no remorse.”
The sisters each accused Williams of being neglected, emotionally and verbally abused, and of failing to provide sufficient financial support to power forwards who once signed a six-year, $86 million contract with the New Jersey Nets. 19-year-old Triumph Jay Williams, who is studying drama at DePaul University, detailed the accusations that his sister was trapped in a trash can by Williams. Triumph also lashed out at St. John’s for “maybe idiots misusing money to honor Jason Williams.”
“I should have always survived, much less succeeded, while ignoring you, so why are you honored and inducted into the Hall of Fame? You should be ashamed of yourself,” she wrote.
Williams killed Christophe while showing a friend a 12-gauge shotgun. According to testimony, Williams wiped off his weapon and handed it to the driver’s hand, removed his own clothes, handed them to his friend, and jumped into the pool.Williams’ attorney said the shooting was an accident and his actions claimed to have been caused by panic.
When Williams was convicted of the shooting in 2010, he tearfully apologized to the victim’s family.
However, his daughters write that Williams did not make amends to them.
“I knew I couldn’t change who my father was or how he viewed or treated me,” Wisdom wrote. “I knew repentance and apology would never come.”
She also wrote a poem about her father, dedicating it, “To the weakest man I know, Jason.”
Williams declined to comment to the AP. St. John’s went ahead and planned to include Williams in the weekend’s ceremony.
“Jason Williams’ life journey encompasses childhood trauma, time spent in homeless shelters, addiction, incarceration, and recovery. Issues that affect countless American families. Family dynamics among children are not an issue for St. John’s University to discuss,” St. John’s spokesperson Bryan Brown wrote in an emailed statement to the AP.
“Part of the process of recovery and redemption is restoring trust, accepting help, and finding comfort and support in the journey. It’s something the university recognizes in Jason Williams.”
Williams averaged 8.1 points and 12.1 rebounds over nine seasons with the Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Nets. At 6-foot-10, Williams was one of the NBA’s best rebounders when he retired from the Nets in 2000 due to a leg injury.
Williams to enter A class of seven at the entrance ceremony of St. John This includes 2016 Olympic high jumper Priscilla Frederick and 2016 Olympic fencing silver medalist Darryl Homer. Williams played his third season at St. John’s under Hall of Fame coach Lou Carneseca. Williams, who co-captained in 1989–90, won 24 games and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament with St. Johns who was part of his team. He was selected 21st overall in his 1990 draft and recorded his 3,472 points, 3,584 rebounds and 301 blocks in his professional career.
Divorced from her daughters’ mother, Tanya, Williams paid Christophe’s family over $2 million in 2003 to settle a wrongful death lawsuit.
He then founded the Florida Rebound Institute, an addiction rehabilitation program. St. John’s touted as a success story.
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