The ongoing deliberations in the Cardell Hayes retrial revolve around the 2016 shooting death of former New Orleans Saints player Will Smith, a tragic incident stemming from a heated confrontation following a Lower Garden District vehicle crash. Notably, this Cardell Hayes retrial was triggered after the Supreme Court overturned Hayes’ initial conviction for manslaughter and attempted manslaughter due to non-unanimous jury verdicts in his first trial.

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Cardell Hayes Retrial: Self-Defense or Aggression

In the heart of the jury’s decision-making process lies the crucial question of whether Hayes acted in self-defense during that fateful night. Prosecutors assert that Hayes, along with a passenger, emerged from their Hummer armed, following the collision with the Smiths’ Mercedes-Benz SUV. In a fit of anger, Hayes allegedly fired multiple shots, causing injuries to Racquel Smith and claiming the life of Will Smith.

District Attorney Jason Williams underscored the gravity of Hayes’ actions by physically handling the pistol and mimicking the eight rounds that struck Will Smith. This demonstration aimed to convey the prosecution’s argument that each trigger pull was a deliberate choice made by Hayes. A ballistics expert further supported this claim, revealing that all recovered bullet fragments and casings matched a single gun, illustrating Hayes’ progressive approach as he fired.

Defense attorneys John Fuller and Sarah Chervinsky presented an alternative narrative, portraying Smith as the aggressor that night, fueled by intoxication. They argued that Smith had bumped into Hayes’ car before driving away, and when Hayes attempted to flag him down, Smith responded violently. One witness even suggested that Smith’s passenger appeared to be holding a gun during the altercation.

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911 Recordings Capture Defendant’s Dilemma on Cardell Hayes Retrial

Fuller highlighted a critical moment when Smith and his passenger, Richard Hernandez, returned to their SUV to retrieve a gun, prompting Hayes to fire in self-defense. The defense emphasized the physical limitations of Hayes, a man weighing around 300 pounds, contending that he couldn’t outrun a bullet. The subsequent discovery of a pistol in Smith’s SUV by the police further supported the defense’s case.

Throughout the Cardell Hayes trial, 911 recordings captured Hayes asking, “What was I supposed to do?” – a moment the defense interpreted as a response to feeling threatened and uncertain about the unfolding situation.

As the jury grapples with its decision, the complexity of the case, including the intricate sequence of events, the level of intoxication of those involved, and the perceived threat, adds difficulty to the task at hand in the Cardell-Hayes retrial.

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