Drew Brees and Steve Gleason were among those in attendance Tuesday to support Will Smith’s wife as she testifies against the man who shot her husband this year.
ESPN’s Mike Triplett was on hand at the trial and passed along the following information:
“Saints QB Drew Brees, Steve Gleason and their wives have joined some of Will Smith’s other former teammates at courthouse to support Smith’s wife Racquel, who is expected to testify today. Opening statements have wrapped up in the trial of Smith’s shooter Cardell Hayes. Also in attendance: Deuce McAllister, Roman Harper, Jahri Evans and Fred McAfee.”
As a member of the New Orleans Saints, Smith won a Super Bowl and was a beloved member of the community that had been devastated by Hurricane Katrina.
He was shot this past April in a road-rage incident that included “ten gunshots or so,” per NBC News, and resulted in the death of the respected NFL player. His wife, Racquel, was also injured in the shooting incident and will certainly tell a different tale than that of the shooter, Cardell Hayes, who alleges he was acting in self defense.
The shooting occurred after Smith bumped Hayes’ Hummer after eating dinner with his wife, only to continue driving. Hayes then followed Smith and crashed into him from behind, shattering the rear windshield.
The trial will determine who the aggressor was in the incident, per the NBC News report.
Having the likes of Brees, Gleason and the rest of Smith’s former teammates in the courtroom will inevitably paint a powerful picture to those in the jury. Their presence will also no doubt be a great comfort to Racquel Smith as she faces the man who killed her husband.