3 officers accused of beating Tyre Nichols to death back in court

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — We’re now just weeks away from the federal trial involving the former Memphis Police officers accused of beating Tyre Nichols to death.

As WREG has reported, two of those former officers, Desmond Mills Jr . and Emmitt Martin have taken plea deals.

Monday, the three remaining officers and their attorneys met with the judge to discuss the next steps in the case before the trial.

Those defendants are Demetrius Haley, Tadarrius Bean and Justin Smith.

Last Friday, Emmitt Martin pleaded guilty to two of the four counts against him, excessive force and conspiracy to witness tamper.

In exchange, prosecutors dropped the other counts and recommended a sentence not to exceed 40 years.

WREG spoke with Tyre Nichols’ mother just moments after the plea.

“(It’s) bittersweet,” Rowvaughn Wells said. “The fact that I had to hear him plead guilty to all those charges that were presented in court today.”

Back in November, Desmond Mills Jr. pleaded guilty to excessive force and obstruction of justice. He agreed to cooperate with prosecutors who recommended he be sentenced to 15 years in prison.

Today in court, attorneys for the remaining three former officers argued it is important for the jury to “understand the magnitude of a witness’ bias” if the former officers take the stand.

One attorney went on to say, “The jury is entitled to know why the witness cooperated with the government.”

As Martin and Mills are expected to see potentially shorter sentences for their cooperation with the prosecution.

Ultimately the judge said he would give the issue “a little bit more thought.”

The federal trial is slated to start September 9.

Nichols’ mother told WREG on Friday that, “Until we get justice, I won’t be content.”

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