NEW ORLEANS -- The man accused of murdering former New Orleans Saints standout Will Smith is now waiting for a jury of eight women and four men to decide his fate after they began deliberating just before 5 p.m. CT on Sunday evening.
Lawyers for both sides passionately spent the day asking that jury to decide whether Cardell Hayes, 29, acted in self-defense or if it was another "senseless" act of "stupidity" in a city that is unfortunately known for its gun violence, as the prosecution argued.
"This is all about somebody getting really mad," shouted assistant district attorney Laura Rodrigue, who said it wouldn't play well to "stand in front of somebody in this community and say, 'I just got pissed off and killed him.