Cardell Hayes Found Guilty of Manslaughter in Killing of Will Smith

December 12, 2016   ·   Scott Polacek   ·   Jump to comments

Former New Orleans Saints and Ohio State Buckeyes defensive lineman Will Smith was fatally shot in New Orleans on April 9. According to Dan Wetzel of Yahoo Sports, a jury reached a verdict in the case on Sunday and found Cardell Hayes guilty of manslaughter in the killing.
Wetzel called it a "lesser charge" but noted Hayes faces 20 to 40 years in prison.
The Associated Press (h/t NBC News) reported Hayes was also found guilty of attempted manslaughter because he wounded Smith's wife.
The verdict came after defense attorney John Fuller argued Hayes shot Smith in an act of self-defense. Fuller also pleaded with jurors not to be "star-struck" by some of Smith's former teammates who were present for some of the trial, including Saints quarterback Drew Brees, per the AP.
Wetzel wrote Hayes was originally facing a second-degree murder charge that could have incarcerated him for life. According to John Simerman and Ramon Antonio Vargas of the New Orleans Adv...

Read Complete Article at Bleacher Report - NFL
Article is property of BleacherReport.com