Man Convicted Of Killing Saints Star Will Smith Has Conviction Overturned

The man convicted of killing former New Orleans Saints star Will Smith had his conviction overturned thanks to a ruling issued by the United States Supreme Court. Cardell Hayes was convicted of manslaughter in 2016 and sentenced to 25 years in prison after he was found guilty of fatally shooting the defensive end and wounding his wife during a minor traffic incident in the Lower Garden District.

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled last year that non-unanimous juries were unconstitutional as it violated the Sixth Amendment of the Constitution. In Hayes' cases, he was convicted 10-2, thereby allowing the nation's highest court to look over his case.

On Monday (January 11), the court vacated his conviction and sent it back to the 4th Circuit Court of Appeal in New Orleans. According to WWL-TV, the 4th Circuit is expected to grant a new trial, but it is up to newly-sworn in District Attorney Jason Williams to pursue the new case.

Louisiana, along with Oregon, was one of the last states that allowed felony convictions in non-capital cases as long as it was at least a 10-2 split, according to WDSU. The state constitution was amended in 2018, two years after Hayes' conviction, to now require unanimous juries in felony trials.

Photo: Getty Images