Cardell Hayes Sentenced to 25 Years for the Manslaughter of NFL Star Will Smith

Hayes, previously released due to a Supreme Court ruling on non-unanimous verdicts, was convicted again in a unanimous decision.

Cardell Hayes was sentenced to 25 years in prison for the 2016 shooting of former NFL player Will Smith following a traffic dispute.
This marks Hayes' second sentencing after his initial conviction was overturned by a U.S. Supreme Court decision against non-unanimous jury verdicts.
During the confrontation, Smith was shot eight times, with seven bullets hitting his back; Hayes claimed he acted in self-defense.
Smith's daughter expressed the profound impact of her father's loss in court, stating Hayes 'ruined my life.'
Hayes will receive credit for time previously served, although the exact impact on his new sentence remains unclear.