New Orleans jury convicts man in fatal shooting of former Saints player Will Smith

2024-12-24 13:55:48 source: category:Markets

The man who shot former New Orleans Saints defensive lineman Will Smith following a traffic altercation in 2016 has been convicted of manslaughter.

A jury in New Orleans deliberated for more than four hours before finding Cardell Hayes guilty just after midnight Saturday in a retrial of the case from more than seven years ago. Hayes faces up to 40 years in prison.

A jury originally voted 10-2 to convict Hayes, but the decision was overturned when the Supreme Court outlawed nonunanimous verdicts. He was released on bond after serving more than four years of his 25-year sentence.

During closing arguments Friday, District Attorney Jason Williams argued that Hayes fired a gun recklessly after a traffic accident, hitting Smith seven times and Smith's wife once.

The defense claimed Hayes acted in self-defense.

NFL STATS CENTRAL: The latest NFL scores, schedules, odds, stats and more.

Smith played nine seasons with the Saints from 2004-2012. He made the Pro Bowl in 2006 and was a member of the Saints' Super Bowl championship team in 2009.

More:Markets

Recommend

Judge recuses himself in Arizona fake elector case after urging response to attacks on Kamala Harris

PHOENIX (AP) — A judge recused himself Tuesday from presiding over Arizona’s fake electors case afte

The Excerpt podcast: Rosalynn Carter dies at 96, sticking points in hostage negotiations

On today's episode of The Excerpt podcast: Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter has died. Sticking poin

Judge bars media cameras in University of Idaho slayings case, but the court will livestream

The judge overseeing the case of a man accused of stabbing four University of Idaho students to deat