New Orleans Saints

The Latest: Smith killer guilty of manslaughter

Published Dec. 11, 2016 11:54 p.m. ET

NEW ORLEANS (AP) The Latest on the trial of Cardell Hayes, charged in the April shooting death of former New Orleans Saints star Will Smith (all times local):

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10:45 p.m.

A Louisiana jury has found the man who fatally shot retired New Orleans Saints star Will Smith guilty of manslaughter.

Sunday night's verdict capped the week-long trial of 29-year-old Cardell Hayes, who also was found guilty of attempted manslaughter for wounding Smith's wife.

The shooting happened the night of April 9 after a car crash in New Orleans.

Hayes claimed he fired only after an irate and drunken Smith punched him and then retrieved a gun from his damaged SUV.

The prosecution said evidence showed Smith never armed himself and Hayes was not justified in firing.

Smith's wife Racquel was wounded in the legs by gunfire that night.

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8:35 p.m.

The jury in the second-degree murder trial of the man who killed retired New Orleans Saints star Will Smith has asked the judge for information on possible lesser verdicts, which the judge said include manslaughter and negligent homicide.

Jurors received the case around 5 p.m. Sunday after a day of closing arguments. In addition to information on other verdicts, they also requested to hear instructions regarding reasonable doubt and legal self-defense.

Defendant Cardell Hayes insisted on the witness stand that he shot Smith following an April 9 traffic crash only because Smith had grabbed a gun from his vehicle. Prosecutors said there is no evidence Hayes was armed when he was shot.

Hayes is also charged with attempted second-degree murder for wounding Smith's wife in the April confrontation.

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4:55 p.m.

A New Orleans jury now has the case of the man who fatally shot retired New Orleans Saints star Will Smith.

On trial is 29-year-old Cardell Hayes, who is charged with second-degree murder. He claims self-defense in the shooting death of Smith following an April 9 car crash.

Prosecutors say Hayes lied when he told the jury in the week-long trial that Smith had retrieved a gun from his damaged SUV following the crash.

Conviction of second-degree murder would mean a mandatory life sentence for Hayes.

In her instruction to jurors Sunday evening, Louisiana District Judge Camille Buras said other possible verdicts include manslaughter and negligent homicide.

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4 p.m.

A New Orleans assistant district attorney pointed to the prosecution of disgraced NFL star Darren Sharper as evidence that her office doesn't play favorites.

Laura Rodrigue referred to Sharper's rape case as she made her final remarks to the jury Sunday in the trial of Cardell Hayes.

Hayes is on trial for second-degree murder. He claims self-defense in the shooting of retired Saints star Will Smith following an April 9 car crash.

His lawyer, John Fuller, told jurors that police rushed the investigation and that prosecutors had political motivations for swiftly prosecuting the killer of an NFL star.

Rodrigue pointed to the case of Sharper, who was prosecuted in New Orleans and other jurisdictions where he pleaded guilty to drugging and raping women. Sharper is serving a 20-year sentence.

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2:30 p.m.

The defense lawyer for the man who shot New Orleans Saints star Will Smith has wrapped up a nearly four-hour closing argument for the jury.

John Fuller represents Cardell Hayes, who says he shot Smith to death on April 9 in self-defense following a car crash and argument. Hayes is charged with second-degree murder.

Fuller on Sunday railed against what he called a rushed investigation into the shooting and he derailed what he characterized as unfair attacks on the defense. He urged jurors not be swayed by the star power of some of Smith's NFL teammates who visited the weeklong trial or by sympathy for Smith's widow.

Jurors were to hear a final word from prosecutors and instructions from the judge before beginning deliberations.

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2 p.m.

The attorney defending the man who killed ex-New Orleans Saints star Will Smith is blaming a passenger in Smith's vehicle for inciting much of the chaos that led to Smith's shooting death following a traffic crash.

Cardell Hayes is charged with second-degree murder in Smith's April 9 shooting death.

In a Sunday closing argument that has lasted three hours, defense lawyer John Fuller reminded jurors of Richard Hernandez, a passenger in the SUV drove that was rear-ended by Hayes' vehicle.

Trial testimony indicated Hernandez jumped out of Smith's SUV and wildly stripped of his shirt as though readying for a fight.

Hayes testified Saturday that he believed Hernandez had a knife. Hayes said he only shot Smith after Smith grabbed a gun from the damaged SUV. Prosecutors said there is no evidence Smith or Hernandez was armed.

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10:30 a.m.

The attorney defending the man accused of killing ex-New Orleans Saints star Will Smith in April has told jurors not to be swayed by other football stars attending the trial.

John Fuller told jurors in the trial of Cardell Hayes not to be swayed by the ''parade'' of fellow football stars that have visited the courtroom and angrily accused prosecutors of unfairly attacking the defense lawyers' credibility.

Fuller said police failed to thoroughly investigate Smith's death and insisted prosecutors haven't proven Hayes' guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Hayes says he shot Smith in self-defense during a confrontation after an April 9 traffic crash. He's on trial for second-degree murder.

Fuller told jurors to consider what would have happened if the situation had been reversed - if the shooter had been a beloved football star and the victim had been an unknown.

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9:30 a.m.

A prosecutor is telling a New Orleans jury that former Saints star Will Smith was ''executed'' in April by a man who shot him eight times and wounded his wife.

Jason Napoli (NAP'-oh-lee) made the assertion as closing arguments began Sunday morning in the trial of 29-year-old Cardell Hayes. Hayes is charged with second-degree murder for shooting Smith during a confrontation over an April 9 car crash. He's also charged with attempted second-degree murder because Smith's wife was wounded that night.

Hayes testified Saturday and that he only fired after Smith had retrieved a gun from his damaged SUV.

Napoli says Hayes was an aggressor who rammed Smith's car. He dismissed defense claims that Smith was the aggressor and that Hayes is not guilty under Louisiana's ''stand your ground'' law.

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8 a.m.

A jury could begin deliberating Sunday in the fatal shooting of New Orleans Saints star Will Smith.

Closing arguments are expected in the trial of 29-year-old Cardell Hayes, who would face a mandatory life sentence if convicted of second-degree murder.

Hayes fatally shot the former NFL player in April following a collision between his Hummer and Smith's SUV. Hayes also is charged with attempted second-degree murder for shooting Smith's wife, Racquel, in the legs.

Hayes took the stand Saturday and said he heard what sounded like a gunshot before he fired in self-defense. He also said Smith grabbed a gun during their confrontation. No other witness said Smith was armed. Prosecutors said the loaded gun remained untouched inside Smith's damaged car.