In a New Orleans courtroom, Cardell Hayes, the man responsible for the fatal shooting of retired NFL star Will Smith during a heated confrontation following a car crash in 2016, has been sentenced to 25 years in prison. This comes after Hayes' second sentencing, following a previous conviction for manslaughter in December 2016.

Hayes' initial conviction was later overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court due to the non-unanimous verdict of 10-2. However, in his retrial in January, Hayes was found guilty by a unanimous jury.

During the sentencing, Judge Camille Buras acknowledged the support Hayes received from his friends and family. However, she emphasized that both Hayes and his companion were armed while Smith was unarmed. Smith suffered eight gunshot wounds, seven of them in the back, during the confrontation that occurred after Hayes' SUV collided with Smith's vehicle.

Lisa Smith, the teenage daughter of Will Smith, spoke in court before the sentencing, expressing the impact of losing her father on her life. She declared, "Mr. Hayes, you ruined my life, you took my father away from me."

Hayes claimed self-defense throughout the trial, asserting that he believed Smith, who appeared intoxicated, had retrieved a gun from his own SUV. However, there was no witness or forensic evidence to support Hayes' claim. Smith's wife, Racquel, was also injured in the incident, being shot in the legs.

Hayes' mother, Dawn Mumphrey, offered her condolences to the Smith family, pleading for mercy during her emotional testimony. She shared the sentiment that their lives had been forever changed as well.

After serving more than four years of his original sentence, Hayes was released on bond. However, following the unanimous verdict in January, he was taken into custody and had been awaiting sentencing at the New Orleans jail.

The sentencing of Cardell Hayes brings some closure to the tragic incident that took the life of a beloved former NFL star. The judge's decision to impose a 25-year prison term reflects the seriousness of the crime committed and delivers a measure of justice to the Smith family.