Three ex-Memphis officers found guilty of witness tampering over Tyre Nichols’ fatal beating

Three former Memphis police officers have been convicted of witness tampering in the fatal beating of a motorist in a case that sparked national protests and calls for broad changes in policing.

Tire Nichols died on January 10, 2023, three days after the assault following a traffic stop.

Jurors deliberated for about six hours before returning with a mixed verdict for Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley and Justin Smith.

All were convicted of at least one charge, but Bean and Smith were acquitted of civil rights charges.

Haley was acquitted of violating Mr. Nichols’ civil rights causing death, but convicted of the lesser charge of violating his civil rights causing bodily harm.

The witness tampering charge carries a prison sentence of up to 20 years.

Justin Smith and Tadarrius Bean were also found guilty of witness tampering and acquitted of civil rights charges

Last year, five officers were indicted, but two pleaded guilty and gave testimony against members of their old crime-fighting unit, eliminating any defense strategy that would rely on them staying together.

Prosecutor Kathryn Gilbert told jurors that officers wanted to punish Nichols for running from a traffic stop and thought they could get away with it.

She argued that the assault reflected a common police practice that officers call the “street tax” or “run tax.”

“They wanted it to be a beating,” Gilbert said. “That’s it.”

Bean’s attorney, John Keith Perry, told jurors that Nichols ignored commands such as “give me your hands” and said his client was following department policy.

During the trial, jurors repeatedly watched graphic clips police video of the beating and the traffic stop that preceded it.

Tire Nichols, 29, died in hospital on January 10, three days after a traffic stop that left him seriously injured

Charged with second-degree murder were (top, left to right) Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Emmitt Martin III, and (bottom, left to right) Desmond Mills Jr. and Justin Smith. Mills Jr. entered his guilty plea Thursday during a hearing at the federal courthouse in Memphis

The video shows officers using pepper spray and a Taser on Nichols, who was black, before the 29-year-old ran away. The five officers, who are also black, then punched, kicked and punched him about a block from his home as he called for his mother.

While detaining Nichols, officers said “hit him” and “hit that guy,” prosecutor Forrest Christian said during closing arguments.

‘This wasn’t a fight. This was just a beating,” Christian said.

Nichols died three days later. An autopsy report shows that Nichols – the father of a boy who is now seven – died from blows to the head. The report describes brain injuries, cuts and bruises on his head and elsewhere on his body.

The other two officers, Emmitt Martin and Desmond Mills Jr., pleaded guilty to depriving Nichols of his civil rights and testified for prosecutors.

Haley, Bean and Smith had pleaded not guilty to federal charges of excessive force, failure to intervene and obstruction of justice by witness tampering.

Defense attorneys tried to portray Martin as one of the main aggressors. They also suggested without evidence that Nichols may have been using drugs — something Christians called “shameful.” The autopsy report showed only small amounts of alcohol and marijuana were present in his system.

Nichols is pictured in hospital after the incident. The 29-year-old from Memphis died of cardiac arrest and kidney failure on January 10, three days after he was stopped by police for reckless driving in unmarked cars.

The five officers were part of the Scorpion Unit, which searched for drugs, illegal weapons and violent offenders. It was disbanded after Nichols’ death

The five officers were part of the Scorpion Unit, which searched for drugs, illegal weapons and violent offenders. It was disbanded after Nichols’ death.

After the assault, the officers did not tell medical professionals on the scene or at the hospital that they had punched and kicked Nichols in the head, witnesses said. They also failed to notify their on-site supervisor and write in required forms about the amount of force used, prosecutors argued.

Martin testified that Nichols posed no threat to the officers

Martin’s testimony provided a glimpse into the culture of the Memphis Police Department, which the U.S. Department of Justice is investigating.

Martin discussed an agreement among members of the Scorpion Unit not to tell on each other after using excessive force, saying they would justify their use of force by exaggerating the actions of the person against them. He also described feeling pressure to make arrests to gather “statistics” to stay on the streets with the unit.

The five officers were also charged with second-degree murder in state court, where they pleaded not guilty.

Mills and Martin are expected to change their pleas. A trial date in state court has not yet been set