LA - Will Smith, 34, retired New Orleans Saints, dies in road rage, New Orleans, 9 April 2016 *new trial 2023*

[Blondie in Spokane]

'To be accused of murdering your idol is earth-shattering': Lawyer of Will Smith's 'killer' claims he didn't know Saints player had been shot until next day

Cardell Hayes, 28, is accused of shooting of football player Will Smith

Smith died after being shot eight times during a confrontation on Saturday

Now attorney John Fuller has said Hayes was a huge fan of Smith

Claims Hayes didn't know who had been killed until the following day and collapsed into a chair after he found out


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...layer-didn-t-know-shot-day.html#ixzz45tMcyq4V

 

[jjenny]

One would think a "huge fan" should have recognized someone he supposedly idolized.

 

[SpanishInquisition]

Hayes's lawyer is asking that the NOPD be taken off the case and they also want additional video footage preserved:
http://www.nola.com/crime/index.ssf/2016/04/cardell_hayes_attorney_asks_no.html
What I think their defense might be is that the ex-cop that he sued was somehow pursuing him. I don't know if that's true, but I do think that's where they are going with this. However it went down I do think this was part of some other event, like an ongoing feud between the ex-cop and Hayes. I think the NOPD has investigated this honestly and fairly, but I'd very much want to know the longer histories of these two and have all the available footage of both of them that night to see if one or both of them were trying to cause mischief with the other.

 

[jjenny]

He is the one who pursued victims car (after minor traffic collision (if the cars even collided)), rammed into it, then shot victim numerous time (and victim's wife twice).
How would be possible for his lawyer to argue the ex-cop was pursing him?

 

[ATasteOfHoney]

'To be accused of murdering your idol is earth-shattering': Lawyer of Will Smith's 'killer' claims he didn't know Saints player had been shot until next day

Cardell Hayes, 28, is accused of shooting of football player Will Smith

Smith died after being shot eight times during a confrontation on Saturday

Now attorney John Fuller has said Hayes was a huge fan of Smith

Claims Hayes didn't know who had been killed until the following day and collapsed into a chair after he found out


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...layer-didn-t-know-shot-day.html#ixzz45tMcyq4V

The article shows the murderer's attorney trying to paint the murderer as a victim---trying to gain sympathy!
Absolutely perverse & despicable tactic!

 

[CARIIS]

The article shows the murderer's attorney trying to paint the murderer as a victim---trying to gain sympathy!
Absolutely perverse & despicable tactic!

So agree the smith guy caused the whole mess , and in some ways come on too many coidences, dinner with cop, IMpala people were in front of you that were friends, now do I think he (Smith) was threatening totally

bit I must admit that in the video the hummer had no reason stopping there. There was no car ahead of him , so was it a bunch of guys being guys- translation here (men!) - but there was no reason for the Hummer to stop like he did ? Nothing in front of him out of the blue he stops ????????????? What is that about guys ??

 

[popsicle]

So agree the smith guy caused the whole mess , and in some ways come on too many coidences, dinner with cop, IMpala people were in front of you that were friends, now do I think he (Smith) was threatening totally

bit I must admit that in the video the hummer had no reason stopping there. There was no car ahead of him , so was it a bunch of guys being guys- translation here (men!) - but there was no reason for the Hummer to stop like he did ? Nothing in front of him out of the blue he stops ????????????? What is that about guys ??

Maybe it was a brake check.

 

[pukasonqo2]

he shot him seven times in the back and one time in the side
i don't care who the victim was, this guy shot somebody eight bloody times
he cannot claim self defense, he shot a man in the back
he also shot his wife


Lupus est homini, non , quom qualis sit non novit

 

[CARIIS]

Hayes's lawyer is asking that the NOPD be taken off the case and they also want additional video footage preserved:
http://www.nola.com/crime/index.ssf/2016/04/cardell_hayes_attorney_asks_no.html
What I think their defense might be is that the ex-cop that he sued was somehow pursuing him. I don't know if that's true, but I do think that's where they are going with this. However it went down I do think this was part of some other event, like an ongoing feud between the ex-cop and Hayes. I think the NOPD has investigated this honestly and fairly, but I'd very much want to know the longer histories of these two and have all the available footage of both of them that night to see if one or both of them were trying to cause mischief with the other.

yeh i think this amazing dinner with the guy he sued and WON bit (7 figures) is totally a part of the evening -- to much coincidences, and whrn I found the Impala victims (Knew) them come on in the nniddle of NO all this just colides in the middle of the street that IMO is just silly,

and lets not foget it took a while for LE to acknowledge he had gun money and fame do do things but the story blew up on em

 

[popsicle]

I just don"t think this is as simple and easy as it appears. I'll have to wait until I hear the whole story. Something made him pull out a gun and shoot and that something is what he feels justifies his actions. I think Smith said something along the lines of getting his gun and then bent down or over to his glove box to get it and as he came up with it Hayes started shooting. idk just my guess at this point.

 

[JerseyGirl]

Police: 1 round in gun found at scene of Will Smith shooting

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2016/04/21/police-1-round-in-gun-found-at-scene-will-smith-shooting.html

 

[SpanishInquisition]

Here's a very interesting local article where it says LE is investigating if Will Smith was the one who accidentally shot his wife and the feds are following the case if there was a cover-up:
http://www.wwl.com/Source-NOPD-investigating-claims-Will-Smith-may-ha/22692546
So far we haven't heard what make and model pistol Hayes had, but if it was the Ruger P345 like had been arrested for previously, it would have been difficult to fire 10 rounds and have 1 in chamber as the pistol is 8+1, short of some special modification:
http://www.usacarry.com/ruger-p345-evaluation/

 

[JanetElaine]

Here's a very interesting local article where it says LE is investigating if Will Smith was the one who accidentally shot his wife and the feds are following the case if there was a cover-up:
http://www.wwl.com/Source-NOPD-investigating-claims-Will-Smith-may-ha/22692546
So far we haven't heard what make and model pistol Hayes had, but if it was the Ruger P345 like had been arrested for previously, it would have been difficult to fire 10 rounds and have 1 in chamber as the pistol is 8+1, short of some special modification:
http://www.usacarry.com/ruger-p345-evaluation/

Yikes. If that is the case, maybe Smith was leaning into the car getting his gun from the glove box, and he accidentally shot his wife twice. Hayes no doubt heard those shots and may have thought Smith was firing at him and he panicked and shot Smith. I could see this scenario happening. And if that's the case, the amount of shots Hayes fired were out of panic, IMO. Would also explain why he didn't run and stayed at the scene - he genuinely thought he got shot at first.

:cow:

 

[Blondie in Spokane]

Here's a very interesting local article where it says LE is investigating if Will Smith was the one who accidentally shot his wife and the feds are following the case if there was a cover-up:
http://www.wwl.com/Source-NOPD-investigating-claims-Will-Smith-may-ha/22692546

Interesting article.....thanks Spanish.

 

[DeDee]

There was never any doubt in my mind that the white Mercedes hit the rear of the Hummer. It wasn't a light tap as the heavy Hummer was actually moved by the hit (or collision, if you will). The Mercedes driver did not have his car under control as he was driving at a fairly fast pace and rapidly pulled away when the Hummer pulled to the side of the road.

If WS shot his own wife, that is a game changer. The first reports claimed she was outside of the vehicle on the driver's side of the vehicle and not inside wrestling with WS over a weapon.

If the Reserve police officer, BC, who was named in the Hayes lawsuit, moved anything at the crime scene, that is a criminal action.

"One of the men Smith had been eating with just before his killing, Reserve Police Officer Billy Ceravolo, has now hired a lawyer.

That comes amid allegations he helped put Smith's gun back in the car after the shooting. Investigators want to know if he helped cover up the truth. The retired NOPD captain has since been stripped of his reserve status with the department."
http://www.wwl.com/Source-NOPD-investigating-claims-Will-Smith-may-ha/22692546

My perspective on what went down that night has changed from the reports I read initially.

The Hayes family did sue the New Orleans Police for millions over the death of their father, but settled for much less, or about a tenth of that amount each for CH and his sister, as I posted earlier in the thread.

 

[kimi_SFC]

The latest turn of events, especially the surveillance video, has my head spinning. I can only hope the truth will be revealed as to what transpired in that fateful night. Otherwise, how can justice be served?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[verbonica]

Cardell Hayes, the man accused of murdering former Saints player Will Smith, was indicted Thursday (April 28) on a charge of second-degree murder. A New Orleans grand jury also indicted him in attempted second-degree murder of Smith's wife, Racquel, of aggravated criminal damage to a vehicle and on another charge of aggravated assault of Will Smith.

http://www.nola.com/crime/index.ssf/2016/04/will_smith_death_indicted_murd.html

 

[Blondie in Spokane]

New Orleans Saints star Will Smith's 'blood alcohol level was THREE TIMES the legal limit' on night he was fatally shot following confrontation

Will Smith's blood alcohol content was 0.24 per cent, three times the legal driving limit, when he was fatally shot on April 9, sources have claimed

This contradicts a statement made by an attorney for the family who said Smith was not 'inebriated to the point' where he could not be driving

Cardell Hayes was indicted last month on a second-degree murder charge in Smith's death

Hayes, 28, is also facing a charge of attempted second-degree murder for allegedly wounding Smith's wife Raquel


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...ot-following-confrontation.html#ixzz4AHkzwDLk

 

[Blondie in Spokane]

'What was I supposed to do?' Hayes asked officer Christopher "

"The rookie officer, who was unarmed and out of uniform at a bar that night, said he had gone out to the street to intervene after hearing men arguing following a car crash."

"McGaw testified that he heard the former NFL linebacker say something like 'Oh, you have a gun? I have one too, I can play that way!'

"Then shots rang out — several quick shots, a slight pause, then several more, McGaw said."

"McGaw testified that he didn't see the gunshots because he ducked for cover when he spotted a weapon as the argument escalated. But McGaw said he called 911 moments later, and kept the line open as he approached Hayes to ask what happened.
McGaw testified that Hayes told him he carried his .45-caliber handgun as he left his Hummer, and that Smith was unarmed when he got out of the SUV Hayes had just rear-ended."

"The officer said he didn't realize at first that anyone was hurt, but then he saw the lifeless body. Smith appeared to have been shot as he reached into his SUV, his right hand extended toward the glove box, he said."

"McGaw testified that he checked his pulse to confirm his death, and noticed gunshot wounds in his back and upper left shoulder."


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...ooting-ex-Saint-Will-Smith.html#ixzz4AZIC62bP

 

[wfgodot]

Sports Illustrated:

The Saint Versus the T h u g That, at least, was the narrative being pushed in the immediate aftermath of Will Smith’s shooting
death six months ago: an NFL superstar fallen victim to a villainous face of lawless New Orleans. The truth is far more complex.