April Retrial Date for Man Who Killed ex-Saints Star Smith

NEW ORLEANS (AP) (November 7, 2021) — A new trial date of April 4 has been set for the man who killed ex-NFL star Will Smith in New Orleans in 2016 following a confrontation over a traffic crash.

Cardell Hayes remains free on bond after his earlier manslaughter conviction in Smith's death was overturned because the trial jury verdict was not unanimous. Trial had been set for this month but a state prosecutor expressed doubts that a jury could be assembled given complications arising from the coronavirus pandemic and the New Orleans area's recovery from Hurricane Ida.

Hayes has long maintained that he shot the former Saints star in self-defense.

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NEW ORLEANS (AP) (March 18, 2021) — Bail for the man who fatally shot ex-NFL star Will Smith in New Orleans in 2016 has been set at $225,000.

A state judge set the bond Thursday for Cardell Hayes. It wasn't immediately clear when he would be able to leave jail once the bail is obtained. Hayes was sentenced to 25 years in prison for a manslaughter conviction. But the jury's verdict wasn't unanimous and has since been ruled unconstitutional. Hayes insisted he shot Smith in self-defense during a confrontation over a traffic crash.

Thursday's bail was much lower than the $1.7 million bail he faced on his original 2016 charge of second-degree murder.

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(March 5, 2021) - A Louisiana judge says she'll decide later this month what the bond amount will be for the man who fatally shot former NFL star Will Smith after a 2016 traffic collision.

Cardell Hayes was sentenced to 25 years in prison for a manslaughter conviction in Smith’s shooting and attempted manslaughter for wounding Smith’s wife. But the verdict from the jury was not unanimous and has since been ruled unconstitutional.

Hayes could get a much lower bond ruling than he did in 2016 because prosecutors are asking for the bond to be based on manslaughter charges — not the original charge of second-degree murder.

(Story written By KEVIN McGILL/AP)