Richard Lezin Jones of the New York Times reports: A New Jersey Superior Court judge set a Feb. 18 trial date today for Jayson Williams, the former New Jersey Nets basketball star accused of aggravated manslaughter in the shooting death of a limousine driver at his Hunterdon County estate.

Lawyers for both sides in the case welcomed Judge Edward M. Coleman's decision, which was handed down during a status hearing in the case here today. Williams, 34, has pleaded not guilty in the Feb. 14 shooting of the driver, Costas Christofi, 55, who prosecutors said was killed by a single shotgun blast to the chest during an impromptu tour of Williams' home.

In addition to the manslaughter charge, Williams is accused of tampering with witnesses and evidence in an attempt to make the shooting look like a suicide. Two of his friends have pleaded guilty to tampering charges and are cooperating with prosecutors.