Closing arguments are set to take place in the federal trial of three former Memphis police officers accused of violating Tyre Nichols' civil rights in a fatal beating that occurred after a 2023 traffic stop. The officers, Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, and Justin Smith, rested their cases after calling experts to counter prosecutors' claims of excessive force, failure to intervene, and obstruction of justice.
Video evidence shows the officers, all Black, assaulting Nichols, also Black, near his home, resulting in his death three days later. An autopsy revealed that Nichols, a father, succumbed to head injuries sustained during the altercation. The Scorpion Unit, to which the officers belonged, was disbanded following the incident.
During the traffic stop, the officers used pepper spray and a Taser on Nichols, who fled, prompting the alleged beating. Prosecutors argue that the officers engaged in this conduct as part of a practice known as the 'street tax' or 'run tax.'
Haley, Bean, and Smith face federal charges that include excessive force and witness tampering, carrying a potential life sentence. Additionally, all five officers, including Desmond Mills and Emmitt Martin, are charged with second-degree murder in state court, with Mills and Martin expected to change their pleas.
The trial in state court is pending, with no set date. The case has sparked discussions about police conduct and accountability, shedding light on the need for transparency and justice in law enforcement practices.
