Man Who Shot and Killed Former Saints Player Will Smith Receives 25-Year Sentence

Cardell Hayes, the man who shot and killed former Saints player Will Smith, has been sentenced to 25 years in prison.

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Cardell Hayes, the man who shot and killed retired New Orleans Saints defensive end Will Smith just a little over a year ago, was handed a 25-year prison sentence on Thursday. Back in December, Hayes was found guilty of manslaughter, and could have been sentenced to as many as 60 years, though the prosecution was actually originally seeking a mandatory life sentence for second-degree murder.

According to the AP, Hayes will also serve a simultaneous 15-year bid for wounding Smith's wife, Racquel, in the legs during the same incident:

"The district attorney and the Smith family are disappointed with the sentence," said prosecutor Christopher Bowman after the punishment was announced.

The 29-year-old Hayes shot and killed Smith last April in New Orleans following a traffic dispute between the two men. Hayes had argued that he had been acting in self-defense.

On Thursday Hayes apologized for the Smith family's "loss." And told Smith's widow that he wished the event had not taken place.

He will be given credit for time served since the start of his imprisonment last year.

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