Three former Memphis police officers were convicted Thursday of witness tampering related to the 2023 fatal beating of Tyre Nichols, while two of the officers were acquitted of more severe federal civil rights violations.
After six hours of deliberation, the jury found Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley and Justin Smith guilty of attempting to manipulate the narrative by tampering with witnesses, a charge that carries a potential 20-year prison sentence, according to Fox 59. However, when it came to the more severe charges of violating Nichols’ civil rights, the jury acquitted Bean and Smith but convicted Haley of causing bodily injury, a lesser offense than the anticipated charge of causing death.
Five officers were initially charged, but two officers implicated in the death of Nichols entered guilty pleas and testified against their former colleagues, Fox 59 reported. Attorney Ben Crump and Nichols’ mother, RowVaughn Wells, expressed satisfaction with the overall outcome of the case.
“All of them have been convicted of something, and they are all going to jail,” Wells said, Fox 59 reported. “That’s how I feel. This has been a long journey for our family.”
Desmond Mills, one of the officers who took a plea deal with a potential sentence of up to 15 years, delivered an emotional testimony at the trial, Fox 59 stated. Through tears, he expressed regret for the beating, apologized for leaving Nichols’ young son fatherless, and admitted he participated in a cover-up, hoping the incident would “blow over” if Nichols survived.
Emmitt Martin, another officer who struck a deal with prosecutors, testified that Nichols was “helpless” during the beating and that the officers had a mutual understanding to cover for each other, the outlet reported. Under the plea agreement, prosecutors are recommending a sentence of up to 40 years, while defense attorneys questioned the officers’ training and highlighted Martin as a key aggressor, admitting he punched and kicked Nichols in the head and torso.
Nichols succumbed to injuries three days after the Jan. 7, 2023, traffic stop, during which the five former officers pulled him over for “reckless driving” and chased him after he fled on foot. Video footage shows the officers beating Nichols before he was hospitalized for shortness of breath and later died from his injuries.
Featured Image Credit: Santeri Viinamäki
