By The Guardian
Photos: YouTube Screenshots
The federal trial of three former Memphis police officers charged in the killing of Tyre Nichols begins Monday.
Ex-officers Tadarrius Bean, Justin Smith Jr, and Demetrius Haley will stand trial for federal civil rights and conspiracy charges in connection to Nichols’s death, according to an announcement from the Department of Justice last year.
Nichols, a 29-year-old Black man, was stopped by officers for an alleged traffic violation while driving home from work on 7 January 2023. After being pulled from his car, Nichols was brutally beaten by the officers, in an assault that was caught on video and later released to the public. Nichols died from his injuries three days after the attack. His death sparked national outrage, as demonstrators across the country called for a prompt investigation and denounced police brutality.
Two other former officers were also charged in the original federal indictment, but have since pleaded guilty.
Emmitt Martin III pleaded guilty to federal witness tampering and excessive force charges last month. Prosecutors will request a prison sentence of no more than 40 years at Martin’s 5 December sentencing, according to his plea deal. Desmond Mills Jr pleaded guilty to federal excessive force and obstruction charges. In line with Mills’s plea deal, prosecutors will recommend a 15-year prison sentence. READ MORE…
