The federal trial of three former Memphis police officers involved in the death of Tyre Nichols began on Monday with jury selection. The officers—Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, and Justin Smith—are facing charges of violating Nichols’ civil rights, excessive force, and obstruction of justice. Nichols, a 29-year-old Black man, was beaten by police in January 2023 after being pulled over and attempting to flee. He died three days later from severe head injuries. The trial is expected to last several weeks, and Nichols’ family is expected to attend. Two other officers involved have pleaded guilty in federal court.
Quick Read
- Federal trial begins for three former Memphis police officers charged in Tyre Nichols’ death.
- Officers Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, and Justin Smith face charges of violating civil rights, excessive force, and obstruction of justice.
- Nichols, a 29-year-old Black man, was beaten by officers after a traffic stop in January 2023 and died three days later from severe injuries.
- Jury selection starts Monday, with the trial expected to last 3-4 weeks.
- Two other officers involved, Emmitt Martin III and Desmond Mills Jr., have pleaded guilty and may testify in the trial.
- Nichols’ death sparked protests and calls for police reform across the country.
Trial for 3 Ex-Memphis officers in Tyre Nichols’ death begins
Newslooks- MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) —
Jury selection for the federal trial of three former Memphis police officers charged in the death of Tyre Nichols began on Monday. Nichols’ fatal beating in January 2023, captured on police cameras, sparked widespread protests and renewed demands for police reform.
The officers—Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, and Justin Smith—have pleaded not guilty to federal charges, including violating Nichols’ civil rights through excessive force, failure to intervene, and obstruction of justice by witness tampering.
Nichols, a 29-year-old Black man, was pulled over by police and, after attempting to flee, was severely beaten by officers. He died three days later in the hospital. Video footage showed the officers—also Black—kicking, punching, and striking Nichols with a baton while he cried out for his mother, just a block from his home.
The trial is expected to last three to four weeks, with national media attention and Nichols’ family attending. Jurors will be selected from a pool of approximately 200 people.
Nichols was employed at FedEx and was known for his passion for skateboarding and photography. The autopsy revealed he died from head injuries caused by the assault, and his death was ruled a homicide.
The officers involved, part of the now-disbanded Scorpion crime suppression unit, were fired shortly after Nichols’ death. In addition to federal charges, all five officers were charged with second-degree murder in state court, where they pleaded not guilty. Two of the officers, Emmitt Martin III and Desmond Mills Jr., have pleaded guilty in federal court and may testify during the trial. A state trial date has not yet been scheduled.
