Cardell Hayes found guilty in '16 killing of ex-Saints DE Smith - ESPN

The man who shot and killed former New Orleans Saints defensive end Will Smith following a traffic crash almost eight years ago was found guilty of manslaughter early Saturday morning.

Cardell Hayes could face up to 40 years in prison following the jury's decision in a retrial of the 2016 case. Hayes was acquitted of attempted manslaughter for the shooting that injured Smith's wife, Racquel, in the same altercation.

A defense lawyer had insisted that Hayes rightfully feared for his life when he shot Smith, while and the city's top prosecutor insisted that Hayes fired needlessly.

«One gun was fired by one man,» an animated District Attorney Jason Williams said during closing arguments, holding in the air the evidence-tagged handgun that Hayes fired, hitting Will Smith eight times — seven in the back — and hitting Racquel Smith in the legs.

Hayes had been convicted in December 2016 of manslaughter in Smith's death and attempted manslaughter for the gunshot wounding of Racquel Smith. But the jury vote was 10-2, and the conviction was tossed after the Supreme Court outlawed nonunanimous verdicts. Hayes was released on bond after having served more than four years of a 25-year sentence handed down by the same judge who will determine his sentence again.

His retrial was delayed for various reasons, including court closures during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Prosecutors rested their case against Hayes on Friday, and the defense chose not to call witnesses after that.

Assistant District Attorney Matt Derbes, during closing arguments, conceded that Smith was drunk at the time Hayes ran into the rear of his car before the shooting and that a loud argument ensued. He also acknowledged that a gun was in Smith's car. But there was no