NEW ORLEANS:A man convicted of manslaughter shot former New Orleans Saints player Will
Smith after a car accident almost eight years ago.
In the retrial of Cardell Hayes, the jury debated for over four hours before returning a decision
shortly after midnight on Saturday, according to press reports. He might spend up to 40 years
behind bars.
Mr. Hayes was found not guilty by the jury of attempting manslaughter in the shooting and injury
of Smith’s wife in April 2016.
In December 2016, Mr. Hayes, 36, was found guilty of manslaughter in Smith’s death and
attempted manslaughter in Racquel Smith’s gunshot wound. However, the conviction was
overturned after the U.S. Supreme Court banned nonunanimous judgements, with the jury voting
10–2. After serving more than four years of a 25-year sentence, Mr. Hayes was freed on bond.
A number of factors, including court closures during the COVID-19 pandemic, contributed to the
postponement of his retrial.
On Friday, the prosecution concluded their evidence against Mr. Hayes, and the defence decided
not to call any more witnesses.
During his closing remarks, the top prosecutor for the city maintained that Hayes dismissed
without cause.
District Attorney Jason Williams declared, “One gun was fired by one man,” raising the evidence-
tagged handgun Mr. Hayes had shot, striking Smith eight times—seven times in the back—as well
as his wife’s legs.
John Fuller, the defence lawyer, maintained that the prosecution had not shown that Mr. Hayes did
not defend himself. Mr. Fuller cited a 911 conversation taped shortly after the incident, in which
Hayes is audible in the background and asserts that Smith mentioned he was going to retrieve a
gun from his car.
Mr. Fuller attempted to disprove the assertions made by the prosecution that Racquel Smith had
already calmed her husband before Mr. Hayes started shooting.
Referring to prosecution testimony regarding Ms. Racquel Smith’s attempts to diffuse the conflict,
he remarked, “You don’t say ‘Calm down it’s not worth it’ if you don’t have to say ‘Calm down it’s
not worth it.”
Will Smith was drunk at the time of the altercation, according to the evidence. However, Hayes’
assertion that Smith had shot or handled a weapon was not supported by any forensic evidence or
eyewitness accounts.
The 34-year-old father of three, Smith led the Saints’ defence and helped to restore hope to New
Orleans following Hurricane Katrina’s devastation to the city in 2005. In 2006, he contributed to
the team’s winning season, and in 2010, he helped the squad win the Super Bowl.
Mr. Hayes was a former semi-pro football player and owner of a tow truck company. He is the
father of one boy.
Get more update on sportupdates.co.uk
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