Man who shot ex-Saints star Will Smith receives 25-year prison sentence for manslaughter

By KEVIN McGILL
Associated Press

The man who fatally shot retired NFL star Will Smith after a car crash in 2016 has received a 25-year prison sentence following his January conviction on a manslaughter charge.

Thursday’s hearing in New Orleans marked the second time 36-year-old Cardell Hayes had faced sentencing in the killing.

He was convicted of manslaughter in December 2016 and later sentenced to 25 years. But the jury vote had been 10-2 and the conviction was later tossed after the Supreme Court outlawed such non-unanimous verdicts.

He was freed on bond while awaiting his retrial but was locked away again after his second conviction in the death of the former New Orleans Saint.