Disclaimer: All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — Racquel Smith, the widow of former Saints player Will Smith, gave her testimony on day three of the retrial of the man accused of fatally shooting her husband.
The retrial of Cardell Hayes began on Monday, Jan. 22.
Hayes was previously found guilty of killing Smith and wounding Smith’s wife in 2016, after admitting his actions were done in self-defense. But his conviction was later thrown out because the verdict was not unanimous.
On Wednesday, Jan. 24, Racquel testified and recalled how she and her husband were walking away when Hayes began shooting.
“I don’t even know why he shot me or why he shot Will because their arguing, their bickering was done. It was over,” she testified.
District Attorney Jason Williams asked Racquel if she was walking away when Hayes began shooting, and she replied, “yes.”
During Racquel’s roughly four-hour testimony, she recalled the moments that followed, after learning her husband had died in the shooting.
“I think after that I blacked out I don’t remember anything,” Raquel testified. “I think it was the next day, I don’t remember how many days it was, but the doctor said you must have a praying grandmother because I survived. I guess where the bullet went through, it went through my main artery. It possibly could have been me but I’m here, God is good.”
She also said, “It was not necessary for this man to murder my husband. That argument was just an argument, and he murdered my husband, and he shot me in both of my legs. You don’t pull out a gun over your feelings. I’m insulted because my husband died over his feelings being hurt.”
Former Saints Player Pierre Thomas also took to the stand.
“I was frozen,” Thomas testified. “I saw him shooting, I was in disbelief. This didn’t happen, he did not just shoot one of my good friends, my teammate. I’m in disbelief at this point.”
The prosecution advised the jury Tuesday, Jan. 23, that they will have to determine whether Hayes’ actions were justified at the time of the shooting.
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