Cardell Hayes, convicted of manslaughter in the April 2016 shooting death of former New Orleans Saints player Will Smith, could get a new trial after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Hayes' 10-2 jury conviction, The Times-Picayune | New Orleans Advocate reports.
The high court last spring decided non-unanimous verdicts for criminal convictions are unconstitutional. The decision affects all convicts whose appeals are not exhausted.
Whether or not prosecutors once again try and prove Hayes was criminally responsible for Smith's death will be up to New Orleans' new District Attorney, Jason Williams. Williams was sworn in today.
On the night of April 9, 2016, Smith and his wife Raquel were leaving a restaurant when Smith's car struck Hayes', but then left the scene. Hayes followed smith, rear-ending Smith's vehicle in the Lower Garden District.
During an argument after that crash, Hayes fatally shot Smith. Hayes claimed self-defense, and his defense argued Smith took a shot at Hayes and someone took Smith's gun from the scene.
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