After nearly eight years, the retrial of Cardell Hayes, the man convicted of manslaughter, who shot and killed former New Orleans Saints star Will Smith following a traffic crash, has concluded with a conviction of manslaughter, NTD reports. The jury, deliberating for over four hours, delivered the verdict early Saturday, holding Hayes accountable for the 2016 shooting.

Cardell Hayes , the man convicted of manslaughter in Killing of Former New Orleans Saints Star Will Smith walks into the Orleans Parish Criminal District Court for his retrial (Photo: NTD

Man Convicted of Manslaughter in the Retrial

The retrial became necessary after Hayes’s initial conviction in December 2016 was overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court due to nonunanimous jury voting. Released on bond after serving over four years, Hayes had to face the legal process again, culminating in this recent conviction.

Prosecutors argued that Hayes needlessly fired multiple shots, hitting Will Smith eight times, while the defense maintained that the act was in self-defense. The retrial saw no witnesses called by the defense after prosecutors rested their case on Friday.

Former Saints star Will Smith, a defensive leader and integral part of the team’s Super Bowl victory in 2010, was killed in the 2016 incident. The defense, emphasizing Smith’s intoxication at the time, failed to present evidence supporting Hayes’ claim of self-defense against an armed Smith.

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Key Moments and Claims in the Trial of the Man Convicted of Manslaughter

Prosecutors highlighted the evidence-tagged handgun used by Hayes and the multiple shots fired, while the defense argued that Hayes acted in self-defense, pointing to Smith’s alleged intent to obtain a weapon.

Racquel Smith’s efforts to defuse the argument, as revealed in testimony, were central to the trial. The defense contested claims of de-escalation, asserting that saying “Calm down, it’s not worth it” implies a need for such reassurance.

READ ALSO: Cardell Hayes Retrial For Will Smith’s Fatal Shooting Begins With Jury Deliberations