The Latest: Smith killer guilty of manslaughter
The jury in the second-degree murder trial of the man who killed retired New Orleans Saints star Will Smith has asked the judge for information on possible lesser verdicts, which the judge said include manslaughter and negligent homicide.
In addition to information on other verdicts, they also requested to hear instructions regarding reasonable doubt and legal self-defense.
Defendant Cardell Hayes insisted on the witness stand that he shot Smith following an April 9 traffic crash only because Smith had grabbed a gun from his vehicle.
In her instruction to jurors Sunday evening, Louisiana District Judge Camille Buras said other possible verdicts include manslaughter and negligent homicide.
A New Orleans assistant district attorney pointed to the prosecution of disgraced NFL star Darren Sharper as evidence that her office doesn't play favorites.
The defense lawyer for the man who shot New Orleans Saints star Will Smith has wrapped up a nearly four-hour closing argument for the jury.
The attorney defending the man who killed ex-New Orleans Saints star Will Smith is blaming a passenger in Smith's vehicle for inciting much of the chaos that led to Smith's shooting death following a traffic crash.
In a Sunday closing argument that has lasted three hours, defense lawyer John Fuller reminded jurors of Richard Hernandez, a passenger in the SUV drove that was rear-ended by Hayes' vehicle.
Trial testimony indicated Hernandez jumped out of Smith's SUV and wildly stripped of his shirt as though readying for a fight.
The attorney defending the man accused of killing ex-New Orleans Saints star Will Smith in April has told jurors not to be swayed by other football stars attending the trial.
John Fuller told jurors in the trial of Cardell Hayes not to be swayed by the "parade" of fellow football stars that have visited the courtroom and angrily accused prosecutors of unfairly attacking the defense lawyers' credibility.
Closing arguments are expected in the trial of 29-year-old Cardell Hayes, who would face a mandatory life sentence if convicted of second-degree murder.