The man who fatally shot retired NFL player Will Smith following a car crash is headed back to prison.
36-year-old Cardell Hayes was sentenced on Thursday in a New Orleans courtroom for his role in Will Smith’s 2016 shooting death, making it the second time he has faced sentencing for the killing after he was granted a new trial under Louisiana’s unanimous jury law.
A jury found him not guilty on count one for attempted manslaughter – and found him guilty of manslaughter with a firearm.
Hayes has already spent five years behind bars. The judge sentenced Hayes to 25 years for manslaughter, with credit for time served, which totals to eight years. Hayes will have to serve 13 years with the credited time before he can be considered eligible for parole, via WDSU.com.
Will Smith was shot eight times, seven times in his back, during a confrontation with Hayes. Hayes rear-ended the former New Orleans Saints player, which set off a heated confrontation.
Also Read: Retrial Date Set For Man Formerly Convicted of Killing New Orleans Saints’ Will Smith
Judge Camille Buras stated that both Hayes and another person were both armed when they approached Smith’s car at the time of the shooting, and Smith wasn’t armed.
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After claiming that he fired the gun because he believed Smith had reached for a weapon in his SUV, Hayes claimed self-defense. In addition, he stated that although there was no proof to back up his belief, he thought the former Saints defensive end was drunk when they got into the fight.
Will Smith Played Nine Years In The NFL And Won One Super Bowl
Will Smith played nine seasons in the NFL, from 2004 to 2012, and was known to be a leader on the Saints’ defense during their championship season in 2009.
Smith, who was retired at the time of his death, tallied 463 tackles (329 solo), 67.5 sacks, and 85 tackles-for-loss in his nine years in the NFL.
