Cardell Hayes Found Guilty of Manslaughter in Killing of Will Smith

Former New Orleans Saints and Ohio State Buckeyes defensive lineman Will Smith was fatally shot in New Orleans on April 9. According to Dan Wetzel of Yahoo Sports, a jury reached a verdict in the case on Dec. 11 and found Cardell Hayes guilty of manslaughter in the killing.

Wetzel called it a "lesser charge" but noted Hayes faces 20 to 40 years in prison.

The Associated Press (h/t NBC News) reported Hayes was also found guilty of attempted manslaughter because he wounded Smith's wife.

On Wednesday, John Fuller, Hayes' defense attorney, told Emily Lane of NOLA.com his client plans to appeal the conviction.

The verdict came after Fuller argued Hayes shot Smith in an act of self-defense. Fuller also pleaded with jurors not to be "star-struck" by some of Smith's former teammates who were present for some of the trial, including Saints quarterback Drew Brees, per the AP.

Wetzel wrote Hayes was originally facing a second-degree murder charge that could have incarcerated him for life. According to John Simerman and Ramon Antonio Vargas of the New Orleans Advocate, "Hayes was found not guilty of aggravated criminal damage," but he is "still facing an aggravated assault charge."

Wetzel described the April 9 incident and said Hayes' car struck Smith's from behind, which ultimately led to an altercation between Hayes and the former defensive lineman—who had a 0.23 blood alcohol level—and Smith's friend, Richard Hernandez, among others.

Hayes shot Smith eight times and struck Smith's wife once, per Wetzel.

According to Wetzel, Hayes argued self-defense through Louisiana's stand-your-ground law and broke into tears during his own testimony while calling Smith the initial aggressor. Hayes said Smith punched him multiple times and ran back to his car to grab a gun after Hernandez noticed Hayes was carrying a firearm.

"He then said he saw Smith with a black handgun and then heard a gunshot, presumably from Smith's gun," per Wetzel.

Despite Hayes' emotional testimony, Wetzel said the story wasn't corroborated by other witnesses or evidence during the trial.

Wetzel previously said the defense's closing arguments pushed three hours and described the jury as "fading."

Wetzel also noted Saints coach Sean Payton made it to the courtroom before the verdict was read, following his team's arrival from Tampa Bay, after its 16-11 loss.

Payton tweeted an emotional message shortly after Smith was killed in April:

Garland Gillen of Fox 8 in New Orleans shared the police statement describing what happened:

Michael DeMocker of NOLA.com captured some scenes from the incident in April, including one of former Saints running back Pierre Thomas:

Smith's wife, Racquel, released a statement following the verdict (via Nick Underhill of the Advocate):

Former Saints wide receiver Lance Moore also tweeted:

"I think the first thing that went through my mind is the beginning of closure, and some type of peace and closure for Racquel (Smith) and her family and for her," Payton said Monday, per Christopher Dabe of NOLA.com.

The Saints selected Smith with the No. 18 pick of the 2004 NFL draft after he won a national championship and was the 2003 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year at Ohio State. He won the Super Bowl and reached the 2006 Pro Bowl as a member of the Saints.