NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A judge has refused to remove the New Orleans district attorney’s office from the prosecution of a man who is charged with second-degree murder in the death of former Saints defensive end Will Smith.
State Judge Camille Buras on Friday rejected arguments that District Attorney Leon Cannizzaro’s office should be removed because Cannizzaro has shown personal animosity toward defense attorney John Fuller.
Fuller cited a 200-page report that Cannizzaro’s office had circulated to law enforcement agencies. The report alleges witness tampering and other wrongdoing by Fuller and others in unrelated cases. Fuller says the accusations are baseless.
Assistant District Attorney David Pipes argued Fuller presented no evidence warranting a removal of the district attorney’s office from the Cardell Hayes case.
Buras also set a new trial date of Nov. 2.
Will Smith’s family has posted a full page thank you note in The Times-Picayune and The Advocate today pic.twitter.com/aiPb6uFnpZ
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) April 20, 2016
Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.