Advertisement What to know: Who's who in trial of accused killer of former Saints star Will Smith Share Shares Copy Link Copy

The trial for the man accused of shooting and killing former New Orleans Saints player Will Smith in the Lower Garden District begins Monday, Dec. 5. (Tap here for LIVE updates)It's a case that has sparked local and national interest because the victim was a well-known football player and his accused killer has ties to the New Orleans Police Department and a high-profile lawsuit.The trial brings to a close months of hearings, but not before several days of testimony and evidence that will help a jury decide the fate of one man and likely influence the legacy of another.Here's a look at some of the key players whose names will frequent news reports during the trial in criminal court in New Orleans. -------------------------------Key playersWill Smith:Smith, who was 34 when he died, was a defensive end for the Saints between 2004-2013. Born in New York, Smith stood out in the NFL as a defensive end when he was drafted by the Black and Gold. He became a New Orleans favorite, being part of the team that won the Saints' first Super Bowl in 2009, and played his entire 10-year NFL career in the Crescent City.The former Saints player was married and the father of three children. He was living in New Orleans at the time of his death. He had also just completed his work on his masters degree in business.Smith was inducted into the Saints Hall of Fame in October.Cardell Hayes:The 29-year-old New Orleans native was arrested as the accused gunman in Smith's death. Detectives said the two men were involved in a dispute after a traffic-related incident in the Lower Garden District that led to the shooting.Hayes was charged with second-degree murder, attempted second-degree murder, aggravated assault with a firearm and aggravated criminal damage to property, according to court records. He remains at the Orleans Justice Center.WDSU reporter Travers Mackel said Hayes is a graduate of Warren Easton High School, where he was a blue chip football player. He never played college football, but participated in several semi-pro leagues.Hayes owns a towing company and previously worked as an extra on several locally shot movies. Mackel said Hayes has no extensive criminal or arrest record.Hayes' trial is also the second high-profile court case for him. He and his siblings filed a pair of lawsuits against the city in 2005 after his father was killed during an incident with the New Orleans Police Department.Anthony Hayes was shot and killed in December 2005 after an argument with an employee of a drug store on St. Charles Avenue that led to police being called outside. An off-duty sheriff's office deputy found Anthony Hayes armed with a pocketknife, officers surrounded him, used pepper spray and ultimately opened fire, killing him.Cardell Hayes and his attorneys denied Anthony Hayes was a threat when police killed him, and that officers used excessive force on a person who was mentally ill. Attorneys for the city said Anthony Hayes lunged at one of the officers with the knife before three others shot him nine times. City attorneys argued the officers were justified in using deadly force.Cardell Hayes and the city would later settle the pair of lawsuits in September 2011.Racquel Smith:Racquel Smith is Will Smith's widow. The Lafayette native married the former Saints player in 2008. She's raising their three children.During the April 2016 shooting in the Lower Garden District, Racquel suffered two gunshot wounds to her legs. The attorney for the Smith family said Racquel was shot first after the car she and Will were in was struck from behind.What happened next, the Smith family attorney said, was an argument between Will and the driver of the other vehicle. The gunman followed the Smiths back to their vehicle, firing twice, the attorney said.Racquel has physically recovered from her injuries. She accepted Will's portrait for the Saints Hall of Fame in October.William "Billy" Ceravolo:The 51-year-old New Orleans native has connections to the Smiths and Hayes, in and out of the courtroom. He was with Will Smith minutes before the former Saints player was killed. Mackel said he was at the site where Smith was killed.Ceravolo was also involved, and later named, in the wrongful death lawsuit of Hayes' father in 2006, Mackel said. Tap here for more information about the lawsuit.Ceravolo was a 25-year veteran of the NOPD before he retired as a captain and remained on the reserve unit until April. Mackel reported Ceravolo works as the security director for a large downtown hotel.-------------------------------Judge:Camille Buras:Buras is a New Orleans native who was first elected to the bench in Orleans Parish Criminal Court in 1998. She has been re-elected four times.The 54-year-old graduate from Archbishop Chapelle High School, Loyola University and Loyola University Law School.Buras was previously an assistant district attorney in Orleans Parish and as former District Attorney Harry Connick Sr.'s first assistant.She has been regularly voted one of the most consistent and efficient judges on the bench by watchdog agencies.-------------------------------Prosecutors:Laura Cannizzaro Rodrigue:Rodrigue, 35, is a New Orleans native and daughter of Orleans Parish District Attorney Leon Cannizzzaro. She graduated from St. Mary's Dominican High School, Notre Dame University and Loyola University College of Law in New Orleans.Rodrigue has been an assistant district attorney for 10 years. She has handled several high-profile rape and murder cases. She successfully prosecuted Bourbon Street shooter Trung Le in 2016 and former NOPD officer Michael Thomassie for the rape of a 7-year-old girl in 2015.Jason Napoli:The 33-year-old graduated from Jesuit High School in New Orleans and went on to attend Boston University and Tulane University Law School. Napoli is a New Orleans native has been an assistant district attorney for seven years.Before Hayes' trial, Napoli was the lead prosecutor in the rape case involving Dr. Ali Sadeghi, a well-known plastic surgeon with a practice in Uptown.Leon Cannizzaro:Laura Cannizzaro Rodrigue's father was elected district attorney in 2008 and re-elected in 2014. Leon Cannizzaro, 64, is a New Orleans native who graduated from De La Salle High School, the University of New Orleans and Loyola University College of Law.Leon spent 17 years on the bench as a judge in Orleans Parish Criminal District Court. He also served as a state appeals court judge for six years.-------------------------------Defense:John Fuller:Fuller, 43, is representing Hayes and a managing partner of John Fuller and Associates since 2010. The Atlanta native graduated Jackson State University and Loyola University College of Law.He previously practiced with former New Orleans City Councilman James Carter and also worked as a public defender in Orleans Parish.Fuller has extensive experience in jury trials in New Orleans, representing defendants charged with the state's most serious crimes.Jay Daniels:The New Orleans native graduate from Edna Karr Magnet School, Howard University and Tulane University Law School. Daniels, 33, previously worked as a public defender.He has been practicing as a criminal defense attorney since 2009.-------------------------------WDSU reporter Travers Mackel and the rest of the news team will be providing updates throughout the week from court. Stay with WDSU on Facebook and Twitter.Keep up with the trial and all of the updates this week with the WDSU app. Sign up for our email newsletters to get breaking news right in your inbox. Click here to sign up!