NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — Cardell Hayes, the man previously found guilty of killing Saints player Will Smith, has been found guilty of manslaughter with a firearm and not guilty of attempted manslaughter.
A jury returned its verdict around 12 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 27.
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.
Hayes’ retrial began on Monday, Jan. 22. Smith’s wife, Racquel, gave her testimony on Wednesday, Jan. 24.
Day five of the trial started with witness testimony from Merideth Acosta, a firearms and ballistics expert with the New Orleans Police Department.
Prosecutor Matthew Derbes began the closing arguments.
“Whether or not the defendant is a good person or a bad person, we are not judging him as a human being,” Derbes said to the jury. “What ultimately matters is was it justified?”
The defense rested its case shortly after the state, without bringing another witness to the stand. The defense claimed the state did not prove Hayes was guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Hayes will be sentenced on March 27.
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