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Cardell Hayes Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison for 2016 Killing of Will Smith

Related Topics: Will Smith, sentence

The man who killed former Ohio State defensive end Will Smith was sentenced to 25 years in prison on Thursday.

Cardell Hayes, who was convicted of manslaughter for Smith’s killing for the second time in January, received a 25-year prison Thursday in a New Orleans courtroom.

Hayes was originally convicted of manslaughter in December 2016, but the conviction was voided when the Supreme Court outlawed nonunanimous verdicts. He was released on bond in March 2021 after serving more than four years of a 25-year sentence.

Hayes was taken back into custody on Jan. 27 after he was unanimously convicted of manslaughter for the second time.