Judge won’t kick DA off case of ex-Saints player’s death
NEW ORLEANS — A judge refused Friday to remove the New Orleans district attorney and his staff from the prosecution of a man charged with second-degree murder in the April shooting death of retired Saints defensive end Will Smith.
John Fuller, an attorney for Cardell Hayes, wanted District Attorney Leon Cannizzaro off the case, saying he had made baseless accusations, including witness intimidation, against Fuller.
Hayes was arrested after Smith was shot to death following an automobile crash on April 9. Prosecutors say Hayes provoked a confrontation by ramming his SUV into one driven by Smith — after Smith had earlier bumped the rear of Hayes’ vehicle.
The defence has argued that Smith was the aggressor and that Hayes fired in self-defence after Smith went to his own car to get his gun.