Back to the New Orleans Saints Newsfeed

Retrial date set for man accused in death of former New Orleans Saints DE Will Smith

NEW ORLEANS -- The man whose manslaughter conviction in the death of former Saints player Will Smith was overturned is scheduled to be tried again in August.

Orleans Parish Criminal District Judge Camille Buras set the Aug. 22 date for Cardell Hayes' retrial on Monday after a conference with Hayes' attorney, John Fuller, and Orleans Parish prosecutors, The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate reported.

Hayes' retrial was initially scheduled for Oct. 18, 2021, but was postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic and Hurricane Ida. It was rescheduled for Monday then postponed again.

Hayes was convicted in December 2016 of manslaughter and attempted manslaughter, eight months after Smith was killed and his wife wounded during an argument with Hayes.