The jury acquitted Hayes of attempted manslaughter in the shooting and wounding of Smith’s wife during the April 2016 confrontation. Will Smith was a star defensive end for the New Orleans Saints (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun, File)Hayes, 36, had previously been convicted in December 2016 of manslaughter in Smith’s death and attempted manslaughter for the gunshot wounding of Racquel Smith. But the jury vote was 10-2 and the conviction was overturned after the US Supreme Court outlawed non-unanimous verdicts. The city’s top prosecutor insisted during his closing argument that Hayes fired needlessly. Mr Fuller sought to refute prosecutors’ claims that Ms Smith had calmed her husband down by the time Hayes opened fire.

Source: The Times January 28, 2024 04:04 UTC