Man Convicted of Manslaughter in Will Smith’s Death
A man has been convicted of manslaughter for shooting former New Orleans Saints star Will Smith following a traffic accident nearly eight years ago. After more than four hours of deliberation, the jury returned the conviction in Cardell Hayes’ retrial, and he faces up to 40 years in jail.
The jury also found Hayes not guilty of attempted manslaughter for shooting and wounded Smith’s wife during the April 2016 confrontation.
Hayes, 36, was previously convicted in December 2016 of manslaughter in Smith’s murder and attempted manslaughter for shooting Racquel Smith. However, the verdict was reversed because the jury did not decide unanimously, and Hayes was released on bond after serving more than four years of a 25-year sentence.
His retrial was postponed for a variety of reasons, including court closures during the COVID-19 pandemic. Prosecutors closed their case against Hayes on Friday, and the defense chose not to call any additional witnesses. During closing remarks, the city’s top prosecutor underlined that Hayes fired without cause.
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District Attorney Jason Williams held up the handgun used by Hayes, emphasizing that one man fired the gun, hitting Smith eight times, seven of which were in the back, and also injuring Smith’s wife in the legs. Defense attorney John Fuller argued that prosecutors failed to prove Hayes didn’t act in self-defense, citing a 911 call where Hayes can be heard saying Smith threatened to retrieve a gun from his car.
Fuller disputed claims that Racquel Smith had calmed her husband down before the shooting, stating, “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 found to be intoxicated during the confrontation, but there was no evidence supporting Hayes’ claim that Smith had a weapon. Smith, aged 34 and a father of three, was known for his defensive skills with the New Orleans Saints, bringing hope to the city after Hurricane Katrina. Hayes, who owned a tow truck business and played semi-pro football, has one son.
Source: apnews
Man Convicted of Manslaughter in Will Smith’s Death
