A man in New Orleans has been convicted in connection to the fatal shooting of former NFL defensive end Will Smith, after an altercation following a car accident in April 2016.
A jury recently found Cardell Hayes guilty of manslaughter on Saturday morning.
Hayes, who faces up to 40 years in prison, was acquitted on attempted manslaughter charges related to the shooting injuries of Smith’s wife, Racquel Smith.
Hayes, 36, was previously convicted of the crime in December 2016, but his conviction was overturned when the U.S. Supreme Court outlawed non-unanimous verdicts.
In the first trial, Hayes was also convicted of attempted manslaughter for the gunshot injuries sustained by Smith’s wife.
Hayes had served more than four years of a 25-year sentence when his first conviction was overturned and was released on bond.
The altercation between Hayes and Smith, 34, occurred after Smith rear-ended Hayes’ car with his Hummer near the intersection of Sophie Wright Place and Felicity Street.
The men exchanged some heated words after the accident and Hayes, then 28-years old, pulled out a handgun and shot Smith several times. One of the bullets hit Smith’s wife Racquel in her right leg after the shot were fired.
Hayes’ defense said that he feared for his life and was acting in self-defense by shooting Smith. While there was evidence that Smith was under the influence of alcohol, up to three times the legal limit, there was no other evidence that he wielded a weapon or threatened Hayes’ life.
“One gun was fired by one man,” District Attorney Jason Williams said in his closing arguments.
Following the retrial, Racquel and her family released a statement: “Each time we stepped into this courthouse, we were forced to relive the worst moments of our lives,” it said. “As hard as it was to sit and listen to autopsy reports and untruths about the night Will was killed, and I was shot, we came each day brave and strong because we were fighting for Will. I can look my children in the eyes and tell them that I gave everything in pursuit of justice on behalf of Will.”
Father of three Smith played for the Saints between 2004-2013 and helped his former team have a winning season in 2006, bringing joy to the city after it was devastated by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. He was also on the team in 2010 when the Saints won the Super Bowl.
