WGNO

Emotional testimony in the Cardell Hayes trial too much for Will Smith’s family

NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) – The trial of Cardell Hayes, the man who faces second-degree murder charges in the shooting death of former New Orleans Saints player Will Smith, continued today with expert testimony.

Will Smith’s widow, Racquel Smith, who was shot once in each leg the night her husband was killed, left the courtroom as a medical examiner detailed the wounds on Will Smith’s body.

WGNO legal analyst Craig Murdock said the testimony was “clinically and dispassionately” discussing the wounds using pictures from Will Smith’s autopsy when Racquel Smith was overcome with emotion.

“She did not come back until the next witness was called, accident reconstruction expert Mike Sunseri,” he said.

In live Tweets from the trial, Mordock said he couldn’t imagine a jury not being moved by the scene of Racquel Smith sobbing and leaving.

Mordock also noted that prosecutor Jay Daniels did a good job getting the coroner to admit that Will Smith’s blood alcohol limit was over the legal limit to drive in Louisiana.

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