NEW ORLEANS – The Latest on the second-degree murder trial of Cardell Hayes, who shot former New Orleans Saints player Will Smith (all times local):

4:30 p.m.

A private investigator for defence lawyers has acknowledged a witness he interviewed was wrong when she said an ex-police officer might have tampered with evidence at the scene where former New Orleans Saints star Will Smith was killed.

David Olasky had testified at a hearing earlier this year that a witness reported seeing Billy Ceravolo remove what looked like a gun from the SUV where Smith was fatally shot. Prosecutors on Friday showed jurors a video indicating that Ceravolo was not on the scene at the time.

Olasky conceded under cross-examination that the witness was wrong about Ceravolo, who was a friend of Smith’s.

Cardell Hayes is on trial for second-degree murder in Smith’s April 9 shooting after a car crash. The defence maintains Hayes fired in self-defence.

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Noon

A car crash expert has told a jury in New Orleans he believes a driver intentionally crashed his Hummer into the vehicle driven by ex-football star Will Smith on the night of April 9.

That crash led to a heated argument and gunfire that killed Smith that night. The Hummer driver, Cardell Hayes, is on trial for second-degree murder.

New Orleans media accounts of Friday’s testimony from expert Michael Sunseri say he put the blame squarely on Hayes. The defence challenged Sunseri’s conclusions as they discussed “black box” data from the Hummer and Smith’s Mercedes SUV.

Defence attorney Jay Daniels suggested Hayes may not have been paying attention and hit Smith’s vehicle by accident.

It was the fifth day of Hayes’ trial, which is expected to last into next week.