SOMERVILLE, N.J. (AP) A friend of Jayson Williams testified Monday that the former basketball star was holding a shotgun in his right hand when he turned, cursed at a van driver, then raised the weapon and snapped it shut just before it fired a fatal shot.

Williams had his hand on the stock of the gun with his arm at his side, then ``he flipped it like he was bowling,'' Kent Culuko said. Later, Culuko held the shotgun in front of the jury box, and demonstrated how the barrel finished at about waist height, its barrel pointed slightly up.

The description marked the first time the jury had heard from a witness who said he saw the shooting of Costas ``Gus'' Christofi, which happened early on Feb. 14, 2002, while Williams was giving friends a tour of his mansion.

The defense, however, noted that Culuko told authorities he had seen the shooting only when he made a deal to avoid prison and get his record expunged. Prior to that, Culuko had said in several sworn statements and a letter only that he heard the gunshot.

Williams' defense maintains that the shooting was an accident, suggesting the former NBA player did not know Christofi had entered the room and that the weapon malfunctioned. They are also attempting to show that Culuko, not Williams, organized a failed cover-up.

Culuko could not recall if Williams had a finger on the shotgun's trigger when the gun discharged in his bedroom.

He also testified that Williams attempted to transfer Christofi's fingerprints to his shotgun moments after the shot was fired. Culuko was the third witness to make such testimony, and the fourth to say that Williams wiped down the gun.

The retired center for the New Jersey Nets is accused of recklessly handling his shotgun, and then attempting to make the shooting look like a suicide and persuading others to lie that they were downstairs when Christofi was shot.

Culuko, who pleaded guilty to evidence and witness tampering April 25, 2002, faces no jail and no record if he testifies truthfully, he told the court. He could have gotten up to five years in prison.

Asked why he repeatedly lied to investigators, Culuko said, ``I was trying to protect Jayson.''

He came clean after speaking with his parents and lawyer, Culuko said, adding, ``Jayson had also told me to tell the truth and get myself out of it.''

Williams, 36, faces eight charges, including aggravated manslaughter and witness tampering, that could carry up to 55 years in prison. The least of the charges carries a penalty of up to 18 months in prison, but would likely result in probation.