NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A man who shot former New Orleans Saints star Will Smith following a traffic crash nearly eight years ago has been convicted of manslaughter.
The jury acquitted Hayes of attempted manslaughter in the shooting and wounding of Smith's wife during the April 2016 confrontation.
Hayes, 36, had previously been convicted in December 2016 of manslaughter in Smith’s death and attempted manslaughter for the gunshot wounding of Racquel Smith.
The city's top prosecutor insisted during his closing argument that Hayes fired needlessly.
But there was no witness or forensic evidence to back up Hayes’ claim that Smith had wielded or fired a weapon.
Persons:
Will Smith, Cardell Hayes, Hayes, Smith's, Racquel Smith, Jason Williams, Smith, Smith’s, John Fuller, Fuller, ’ ”, Hurricane Katrina
Organizations:
ORLEANS, New, New Orleans Saints, U.S, Supreme, Prosecutors, Saints
Locations:
New Orleans, ”