Retrial Delayed for Man Whose Conviction in the Death of Former NFL Player Will Smith Was Overturned
U.S. News & World Report NEW ORLEANS (AP) The long-awaited retrial of the man whose conviction in the death of former NFL star Will Smith was thrown out because the jury verdict wasn't unanimous was delayed without explanation Monday.
State District Judge Camille Buras announced the continuance after meeting with prosecutors and defense attorneys for Cardell Hayes in her chambers Monday morning. No new date was set but a pre-trial hearing was scheduled for Wednesday.
Hayes, 36, has insisted he shot Smith in self-defense during an April 2016 confrontation. At his December 2016 trial, he said he fired at Smith, hitting him once in the side and seven times in the back, only because he believed Smith had retrieved a gun from his SUV. He insisted on the stand that he heard a pop before he started shooting and that he did not shoot at Smith's wife, who was hit in the legs.
