Man convicted of killing NFL star Will Smith has manslaughter conviction tossed out
The Supreme Court has vacated the conviction of a man accused of fatally shooting New Orleans Saints star Will Smith in 2016.
Cardell Hayes, a now-33-year-old tow-truck driver and semi-pro football player, shot both Smith and his wife in April 2016 after the former Saints defensive end bumped his car into the back of Hayes’, but didn’t stop.
Hayes followed Smith and rear-ended his car, at which point both men got out. Hayes claimed during trial that he thought Smith, a 34-year-old father of three, was going to get his own gun, so he fired first in self-defense.
No one else confirmed seeing Smith go for a gun, but a loaded weapon was found in his car.
Raquel Smith, the NFL player’s wife, was injured as well.
Hayes was charged with second-degree murder, attempted murder and inflicting criminal damage, but was convicted on lesser charges of manslaughter and attempted manslaughter by a jury, 10-2. He was sentenced to 25 years in prison.
In April, the Supreme Court banned split-decision convictions, calling them unconstitutional.
Hayes’ case will now go back to Orleans Parish Criminal District Court, where newly sworn-in District Attorney Jason Williams will decide whether or not to retry him.
Williams said in a statement Monday that the decision “will receive thorough review and a decision in the coming weeks on the best way to proceed under the law to deliver justice.”
