A former Tennessee police officer charged in the fatal beating of Memphis motorist Tyre Nichols is set to change his not guilty plea in federal court on Friday, as per court filings. Emmitt Martin is one of five former officers indicted in connection with Nichols' death on Jan. 7, 2023. Nichols, a 29-year-old FedEx worker and father, was pulled from his car, brutally beaten, and left without medical assistance for over 20 minutes.
The officers were charged in September with federal offenses including excessive force, failure to intervene, obstruction of justice through witness tampering. Desmond Mills Jr. has pleaded guilty and agreed to cooperate, while Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, and Justin Smith maintain their not guilty pleas. The state trial for second-degree murder charges has been postponed pending the federal proceedings.
Martin, the second officer to interact with Nichols, assisted in forcing him from his vehicle after a traffic stop. Nichols was pepper-sprayed, chased, and ultimately beaten by the officers. Video evidence captured Nichols calling for his mother as he was assaulted, with the officers seen conversing casually post-incident while Nichols struggled with his injuries.
Nichols succumbed to his injuries three days later in the hospital, with the autopsy attributing his death to head trauma, ruling it a homicide. The Memphis Police Department found no valid reason for the initial traffic stop. All five officers, including Nichols, were terminated for policy violations.
Martin is expected to appear in court to change his plea as part of an agreement with prosecutors. Jury selection for his trial was slated for September. The case has sparked outrage and raised questions about police conduct and accountability in the community.
