Ex-Memphis Cops Who Beat Tyre Nichols To Death Found Not Guilty Of Harshest Charges

Three former Memphis police officers who were involved in the fatal beating of an unarmed Black driver whose death sparked nationwide protests were found not guilty of the harshest charges they were facing during their federal trial.

While Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley and Justin Smith were all convicted of witness tampering for trying to cover up the deadly beating of Tyre Nichols late last year, Bean and Smith were acquitted of violating the 29-year-old’s civil rights. Haley was also found not guilty of violating Nichols’ civil rights, but he did get convicted of violating Nichols’ civil rights causing bodily injury, the latter of which carries a much less harsh penalty than the former. Bean and Smith were found not guilty of a conspiracy to witness tamper charge, for which Bean was convicted, the Associated Press reported.

The mixed verdict and acquittal of the most serious charges means the disgraced former police officers are no longer facing life sentences in prison.

Attorneys representing Nichols’ family called the convictions “justice” despite the acquittals.

“Today, justice has prevailed for Tyre Nichols and his family. The guilty verdicts reached today send a powerful message that law enforcement officers who commit crimes will be held accountable under the law,” attorneys Ben Crump and Antonio Romanucci said in a statement sent to NewsOne. “Tyre’s family is relieved that all three officers were found guilty and taken into custody for their loved one’s death. Tyre should be alive today, and while nothing can bring him back, today’s guilty verdicts bring a measure of accountability for his senseless and tragic death.”

A sentencing hearing was not immediately scheduled, but each of the former cops face as many as 20 years in prison for the witness tampering convictions. Haley — who took at least one photo of Nichols after the brutality and texted it to others — faces the prospect of serving up to 10 possibly additional years in prison for his conviction for civil rights causing bodily injury.

Crump and Romanucci said the convictions should be “a reminder that our fight for justice for Tyre is far from over. We will continue to push for justice in the state criminal case and the civil case, so that no family has to endure this kind of heartache again. Our thoughts are with Tyre’s family as they continue to navigate this painful journey.”

The trial lasted for just under a month, and the jury deliberated for about six hours before reaching their verdict.

Five former Memphis officers, all of whom are Black, were originally charged in the case before two pleaded guilty.

During the trial, ex-officer Emmitt Martin III — who previously pleaded guilty to using excessive force and failing to intervene in the unlawful assault, as well as conspiracy to cover up his use of unlawful force — testified that Tyre Nichols didn’t pose a threat to police during the traffic stop that ended in his fatal beating.

The fifth former cop charged, Desmond Mills Jr., also pleaded guilty to federal charges of excessive force and obstruction of justice.

As part of the ex-officers’ plea deals, prosecutors recommended Martin get 40 years in prison and Mills get 15 years.

Mills is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 7 and Martin on Dec. 5.

What happened to Tyre Nichols?

Nichols, a father to a young son, died Jan. 10, 2023, three days after he was hospitalized from injuries sustained during a violent arrest for the alleged offense of reckless driving. Bean, Haley, Martin, Mills and Smith were shown on the bodycam video approaching Nichols’ car on the night of Jan. 7 and aggressively ordering him out without disclosing a reason for doing so. Nichols was thrown to the ground and pepper-sprayed and assaulted before he was able to get up and run for his life.

When officers located Nichols a little while later, they took out their apparent anger on him by taking turns beating and kicking him, including multiple blows to his face for minutes at a time.

The results from an independent preliminary autopsy showed Nichols “suffered extensive bleeding caused by a severe beating.”

Nichols’ mother said the video is evidence that the Memphis Police Department “murdered” her son.

Nichols’ older brother likened the death to Emmett Till.

“Knowing the history of police interactions with the Black community throughout time, these men took a position of power and instead of doing something to better the future and honor the past, they became no better than the days of Emmett Till,” Jamal Dupree said in a joint statement with friend Angelina Paxton. “They have let us all down. Justice will be served to them.”

Crump said the officers treated Nichols like “a human piñata” and compared the police violence to the infamous Rodney King beating in 1991.

A Memphis grand jury subsequently indicted the officers on charges of second-degree murder, official misconduct, official oppression and aggravated kidnapping despite calls for charges of first-degree murder.

In addition, three fire department workers were also fired, but not criminally charged, for neglecting to render aid to Nichols. Several other police personnel have been disciplined for their roles, as well, but not fired.

The police violence prompted the U.S. Department of Justice to conduct an external review of the Memphis Police Department.

The Memphis district attorney’s office reviewed around 100 cases shared between former cops, with at least 30 of them getting dismissed and around a dozen having charges reduced.

This is America.

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