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Among other things, the defense team intends to pursue possible bias in the investigation, misconduct by prosecutors and their "erroneous use of peremptory challenges" against some potential black jurors, Hayden said.

McGovern said that once he receives a formal letter from the defense detailing the motions, "we will be pursuing the necessary means to have our office recused from the case."

There have been several shake-ups in the prosecutor's office since the trial, and many employees prominently associated with the case, including Hunt, have left. While Hunterdon Prosecutor J. Patrick Barnes disclosed the slur once he learned of it, he sought to prevent it from being admitted at a re-trial.

Testimony at the first trial proved damaging to the image of Williams, who had been a high school and college star in New York City and a mainstay of the New Jersey Nets before an injury ended his career in 2000. Christofi was a sports fan, and as a reward for his work his boss gave him the assignment of driving Williams and his entourage to a charity and then to a restaurant.

Later, as Williams was giving the group a tour of his palatial mansion, he pulled a shotgun from a rack. It went off while he was holding it. Prosecutors have contended his actions were at best reckless, while the defense suggests the weapon may have malfunctioned.

But witnesses testified the group at times belittled Christofi, who had turned his life around after earlier struggles with alcohol and drugs to counsel others. At 55, he was about to buy his first house.

As the chauffeur laying bleeding to death, Williams wiped down the gun for fingerprints, then jumped into his swimming pool to remove evidence from himself, according to testimony. His brother Victor called 911, but reported Christofi apparently had shot himself.

Jurors also heard how Williams killed a family dog after it allowed a houseguest who was friendly with the animal to drag it onto a porch, costing the player a bet.

But many courtroom observers credited the defense attorneys for mounting a case that highlighted uncertainty about how and why the gun went off.