In court, strong emotions from coach, family of slain Saint
NEW ORLEANS — The killer of retired New Orleans Saints star Will Smith was denied a new trial Wednesday by a Louisiana judge, who then heard tearful, sometimes bitter “victim Impact” testimony from Smith’s family and friends.
Racquel Smith said her daughter fears the day Cardell Hayes gets out of prison. She said one of their sons is “lost” without his father. And with tears and anger, she lashed out at the man who shot her and killed her husband during a traffic dispute last year.
“All I ask of you is to tell the truth,” she said, looking straight at Hayes and accusing him of lying at his December trial, where he said Smith punched him first.
Hayes, 29, faces up to 40 years for manslaughter for killing Smith, and another 20 years for attempted manslaughter for wounding Racquel. Prosecutors want the maximums, served consecutively, for a total of 60 years.