A federal trial involving three former Memphis police officers charged with violating Tyre Nichols' civil rights in a fatal beating has reached a critical juncture as jurors began deliberations following a nearly monthlong trial. The officers, Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, and Justin Smith, were among five officers fired from the Memphis Police Department after the incident on Jan. 7, 2023.
Prosecutors argued that the officers sought to punish Nichols for fleeing a traffic stop and engaged in what they referred to as a common police practice known as the 'street tax' or 'run tax.' Defense attorneys, however, sought to downplay their clients' involvement, with Bean's attorney emphasizing that Nichols had ignored commands and that the force used was not excessive.
Throughout the trial, jurors viewed graphic police video footage showing officers using pepper spray and a Taser on Nichols, a Black man, before a physical altercation ensued. Nichols, who later died from his injuries, was seen being punched, kicked, and hit by the officers.
Two officers, Emmitt Martin and Desmond Mills Jr., pleaded guilty to charges related to depriving Nichols of his civil rights and testified against their former colleagues. The defense attempted to shift blame onto Martin as the principal aggressor and insinuated, without evidence, that Nichols may have been under the influence of drugs.
The trial shed light on the culture within the Memphis Police Department, with Martin revealing an unspoken agreement within the Scorpion Unit to cover up excessive force incidents. The unit, responsible for drug enforcement and apprehending violent offenders, was disbanded following Nichols' death.
In addition to federal charges, the officers also face second-degree murder charges in state court, where Mills and Martin are expected to change their pleas. The trial date for the state charges has yet to be determined.
