Will Smith Trial: DA Says Presence of Saints Players Gave Him 'Greater Appreciation' for Team

— -- The New Orleans district attorney says the presence of New Orleans Saints team members at Will Smith's murder trial "demonstrated to the jury that this community stood behind Will Smith. ... This was a murder of a hero."

Smith died from a road-rage shooting after an altercation with Cardell Hayes in New Orleans on April 9.

Jurors Sunday convicted Hayes of the lesser charge of manslaughter rather than the second-degree murder charge he initially faced for fatally shooting Smith.

Hayes was also convicted of attempted manslaughter for shooting and injuring Smith's wife, Racquel Smith, during the road-rage incident.

Orleans Parish District Attorney Leon Cannizzaro, Jr., said today in a press conference that having lived in New Orleans his whole life, he now has "a greater appreciation" for the Saints due to the support the NFL team showed during Hayes' trial. "They showed a commitment to this community ... to stand by one of their own," he said.

Cannizzaro, Jr., said Will Smith, who was raised in New York and attended Ohio State, was then drafted by the Saints and helped the Saints win their only Super Bowl. After Smith retired, he decided to stay in New Orleans and raise his family there, but was "gunned down over a road-rage incident," Cannizzaro, Jr., said.

Cannizzaro, Jr., said he saw Saints coaches, players, former players and wives of players come to court during Hayes' trial last week to lend their support for the Smiths.

On Sunday, after the Saints' game in Tampa Bay, Saints coach Sean Payton got off the plane ride back from Tampa and went to court to be present for the verdict, Cannizzaro, Jr., said. Former Saints player Deuce McAllister was there as well, he said. "That means a lot," Cannizzaro, Jr., said.

Cannizzaro, Jr., said today that he is satisfied with the manslaughter conviction for Hayes, considering hurdles the prosecution overcame, including the fact that Will Smith had a blood-alcohol content over the legal limit at the time of the confrontation and shooting.

The minimum sentence Hayes could face is 20 years, Cannizzaro, Jr., said, and the maximum is up to 60 years, for combined manslaughter and attempted manslaughter. He said he believes Hayes should be sentenced to 60 years.

Sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 17, according to The Associated Press.

Smith family attorney Peter Thomson said today in a statement on behalf of Racquel Smith that Hayes "made the choice that night to resort to violence."

"It's unfortunate ... that although Mr. Hayes does now stand convicted of this crime, it's very unfortunate that another child will grow up without a father," Thomson said. "But Mr. Hayes regardless of that must face the consequences for his actions."

Thomson said Racquel Smith is still dealing with her husband's loss. "This has been a tragedy for everyone involved," he said, and called the trial a "very, very tough week for Racquel and her family."

Before Sunday's verdict, defense attorney John Fuller told jurors they shouldn't get "star-struck" by the Saints players, according to The AP. He also argued that Smith's popularity led to a rush to judgment by police and prosecutors, The AP reported.

Fuller said in a statement after the verdict, "We respect the jury's verdict and respect the pain that both families are experiencing." Fuller said he is praying for healing "for the Smith family and for Cardell's family."

ABC News' Shah Rahmanzadeh and Gordon McGee contributed to this report.