Murder trial of killer of retired Saint star enters Day 6

Murder trial of killer of retired Saint star enters Day 6 | iNFOnews.ca
A supporter of Cardell Hayes holds signs outside Orleans Parish Criminal District Court, during a break in Hayes' murder trial in New Orleans, Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2016. Hayes killed former NFL New Orleans Saints player Will Smith in a road rage incident, in which Smith's wife, Racquel Smith was also shot and wounded. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) A

NEW ORLEANS – The trial of the man who shot former New Orleans Saints star Will Smith is entering its sixth day.

Cardell Hayes’ lawyers are expected Saturday to continue building a self-defence case. They say an angry, intoxicated Smith intended to retrieve a gun from his SUV after Hayes’ Hummer crashed into it on the night of April 9.

Prosecutors rested their case Friday after nearly a week of hearing from witnesses, including Smith’s widow, Racquel, who was hit in the legs by gunfire that night.

Early prosecution witnesses have said it appeared that Smith’s anger had cooled when Hayes fired. But a friend of Hayes’ who was a passenger in the Hummer insisted that Smith and his friends were the aggressors.

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