“Cardell Hayes has been indicted on four charges, including second-degree murder, in the death of former New Orleans Saints defensive end Will Smith,” cnn.com reports. “The other charges are attempted second-degree murder, aggravated criminal damage and aggravated criminal assault with a firearm. Smith’s wife, Racquel, was wounded in the shooting.” I guess the defense’s contention that Mr. Hayes shot Mr. Smith in self-defense didn’t fly. Let’s see what the judge/jury thinks . . .
My first thought is if it’s not 1st degree murder then they don’t think the dinner with the cop played into it, since a plot for revenge would be premeditation.
What in the world does premeditation have to do with distinguishing first and second degrees of murder under Louisiana law?
Wow, you’re right. There’s really only two differences in the LA code; a 2nd degree conviction carries an automatic life sentence, and more interestingly… well, read this and tell me what you think;
“Second degree murder can be the charge in any of the following conditions:
1The offender has the specific intent to kill or inflict bodily harm, but is not also committing a felony crime
2A person in the process of committing a felony crime kills someone, but without specific intent to kill. For example, if the offender is engaged in an armed robbery and someone dies during the crime, the charge could be second degree murder, even if the death was accidental or unintentional.
3A drug dealer distributes a controlled dangerous substance listed in the schedule I – IV in the uniformed dangerous substances law (examples are cocaine and heroin) and that distribution is the direct cause of the death of the recipient who consumed the drugs.
I guess I suck at reading these, so tell me; is this why a felon in possession charge is not on the table? And how do they square this with the “aggravated assault with a firearm” charge?
Whatever…popular football dude killed by unpopular football dude. I wasn’t there…
Let’s see how this plays out.
Cars bumped. Man gave chase. Men exchanged some nasty words. One lost his cool and shot. At least that’s how it seems.
He should’ve been charged for assaulting us with that shirt.
Another senseless black on black killing.
Hmmm…..where’s Al Sharpton? Where are the street protests? Where are the NFL posers, I mean, players, making lame, pre-game gestures in faux outrage?
I guess black lives only matter when it’s a white, or “white Hispanic”, whatever that is, taking them. Curious, that.
Nah, black lives always matter. And in this case, even the shooter was a victim of white people, because apparently we flood the ghettos with drugs and guns to keep the black man down (because, you know, they have no free will). Clearly. And oh my dear Lord do I wish I was exaggerating, but that exact mindset is terrifyingly common.
Breaking?
When you shoot a guy 8 times, 7 of them in the back, you are likely to go to prison. That isn’t self defense.
And this is what happens when you shoot a well known, well liked person in his own town.
Grand Jury indicts ham sandwich named Cardell Hayes. Not news