Defence try to oust prosecutors in Will Smith case delayed

NEW ORLEANS – A judge in New Orleans postponed until Friday a hearing on whether the New Orleans district attorney’s office should be barred from prosecuting the man charged in the shooting death of retired Saints defensive end Will Smith.

Cardell Hayes is charged with second-degree murder. Defence attorney John Fuller says District Attorney Leon Cannizzaro and his staff should be kicked off the case because he has made baseless accusations of wrongdoing against Fuller.

Judge Camille Buras was scheduled to hear the arguments on Wednesday. However, she agreed to a postponement for two days after Fuller said he has more information to file to back up his motion.

Hayes is set for trial Sept. 20. Prosecutors say he provoked an April 9 confrontation by ramming his SUV into one driven by Smith — after Smith had earlier bumped the rear of Hayes’ vehicle.

The defence attorney 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.

The motion to remove Cannizzaro was made last week following a story in Nola.comThe Times-Picayune on a 206-page report Cannizzaro sent to local, state and federal law enforcement agencies. In the report, Cannizzaro alleges that Fuller and others sought to intimidate witnesses and jeopardized the safety of witnesses in cases unrelated to Smith’s death.

The report, which has not been made public, also alleges that Fuller is under federal investigation. The local U.S. attorney declined comment.

Hayes is also accused of attempted murder in the wounding of Smith’s wife, who was shot in the legs.