Racquel Smith, friends react after Cardell Hayes found guilty of manslaughter

Deuce McAllister put the manslaughter conviction for the man who killed his former New Orleans Saints teammate, Will Smith, in perspective minutes after the verdict was handed down late Sunday night. 

“It’s not a win for anybody,” McAllister told reporters. “This whole time, there’s no a way either party could really win. ... You have a lot of pent-up emotions, frustration, anxiety a lot different things.  To at least hear ‘guilty’ in some sense gives you relief, but at the end of the day it’s not a win.”

Cardell Hayes was found guilty of manslaughter in the shooting death Smith, a conviction that mandates a 20-to 40-year prison term. Hayes was also convicted of attempted manslaughter, a charge stemming from the shooting of Smith’s wife, Racquel. Hayes was found not guilty on a single count of aggravated criminal damage of property. 

Hayes was originally indicted on a second-degree murder charge for the death of Smith and attempted second-degree murder charge for the wounding of his wife from the shooting that arose out of a road rage incident in April. 

McAllister was in court Sunday night when the verdicts were read, along with another of Smith’s former Saints teammate, Pierre Thomas, and longtime Saints coach Sean Payton. 

“Just because there was a verdict, that doesn’t mean everything starts over now,” McAllister said. “She (Racquel Smith) will still get up in the morning and her husband is not there. The kids will still get up in the morning and their father is not there. You look at (Hayes) and he has to deal with what he has to deal with. His family has to deal with that as well. There’s no way you can say one side is happy and the other is not. “

A representative for for Racquel Smith said the widow’s “heart is full of gratitude” for those who brought Hayes to justice. 

"The main focus of Will Smith's family is to see Mr. Hayes justly sentenced for the murder he so callously committed,"  the statement released on Raquel Smith's behalf read. "Will's dedication to his family, his love for his community and his desire to live life to the fullest will continue to inspire Racquel, (their children) Will Jr., Lisa, Wynter and everyone else who loved him."

Racquel Smith is expected to provide a victim impact statement at Hayes’ sentencing, which is scheduled for Feb. 17.

“I don’t know if you ever find happiness in losing your husband,” McAllister said. “How can you find happiness in that?”