Travel problems delay Williams plea hearing

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Travel problems delayed retired NBA star Jayson Williams from being in a New Jersey courtroom to enter an expected guilty plea in the 2002 shooting death of a hired driver.

State Superior Court Judge Edward Coleman indefinitely delayed Friday's hearing in Somerville.

A person with knowledge of the situation, speaking on condition of anonymity, tells The Associated Press that the delay was partly because of travel difficulties. Williams lives in South Carolina.

Another person with knowledge of the case told the AP on Thursday that Williams would plead guilty to aggravated assault. That would carry a minimum 18-month sentence because a gun was involved.

Both sides are prohibited from speaking about the case under terms of a gag order imposed by Coleman.

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Associated Press writer Beth DeFalco in Trenton contributed to this report.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) _ Retired NBA star Jayson Williams will not be in a New Jersey courtroom Friday to enter a plea in the 2002 shooting death of a driver.

A judge has indefinitely delayed a hearing in Somerville in which Williams was expected to plead guilty. No reason was given.

A person with knowledge of the case told The Associated Press on Thursday that Williams would plead guilty to aggravated assault. The person wasn't authorized to talk about the case and spoke on the condition of anonymity.

Williams has been awaiting a second trial for reckless manslaughter. He was acquitted of aggravated manslaughter in 2004 but convicted of covering up the shooting at his central New Jersey mansion.

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Associated Press writer Beth DeFalco in Trenton contributed to this report.

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