Murder Trial Begins for Accused Killer of Former NFL Player Will Smith

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A jury has been selected and opening statements have been given in the trial of Cardell Hayes, the 28-year-old accused of murdering former New Orleans Saints player Will Smith earlier this year in an alleged road rage altercation.

The eight women and four men listened to opening arguments on Tuesday in a New Orleans courtroom, in which according to NOLA.com prosecutors said Smith was unarmed when he was shot to death (and his wife, Racquel Smith, was injured) on April 9.

In court documents previously obtained by PEOPLE, authorities allege that Will and Racquel were shot by Hayes after he rear-ended their vehicle with his Hummer, after which the two men “exchanged words” and Hayes “produced a handgun and shot Smith multiple times.”

Racquel, who is expected to testify in Hayes’ trial, received one gunshot wound to the leg.

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Hayes has been charged with second-degree murder, attempted second degree murder and aggravated criminal damage. He pleaded not guilty, and bail was set at $1.75 million.

‘Stand Your Ground’ Defense?

For more than 12 hours before the trial’s start, prosecutors and defense attorneys questioned about 120 potential jurors

The inquiries seemed to indicate that Hayes is going to argue he shot Smith in self-defense. One of his defense attorneys, John Fuller, spoke to potential panelists about the Louisiana legal concept of justifiable homicide. He also spoke about the state’s “stand your ground” law.

In his opening statement Tuesday, defense attorney Jay Daniels said Hayes “was is reasonable fear of being killed” at the time of the shooting, and Daniels alleged that Will “took a few swings” at Hayes beforehand.

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“His life was in danger,” Daniels said in his statement. “He acted upon that danger, and unfortunately a person lost his life. The law allows for that.”

But prosecutor Jason Napoli has rejected the notion, telling prospective jurors before opening statements, “If you find that Cardell Hayes was the aggressor in this incident — that is, he brought on the conflict — he has no right to claim self-defense. The law rejects that. You cannot be the aggressor and then claim self-defense.”

If Hayes is convicted, he faces life in prison. The trial is expected to last about a week.