Jan 21, 2025 Story by: Editor
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – A federal judge has postponed sentencing for five former Memphis police officers convicted of federal charges in the beating death of Tyre Nichols. The sentencing will follow their state trial in April on second-degree murder charges related to the death of the Black man.
U.S. District Judge Mark Norris stated that the sentencing hearings for Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Emmitt Martin, Desmond Mills Jr., and Justin Smith would occur during the week of June 16. Specific dates for each officer will be determined later. The five former officers, who are also Black, face state and federal charges in Nichols’ death.
Initially, Bean, Haley, and Smith were scheduled for sentencing next week, with Martin’s hearing set for the following week and Mills’ for February 20. However, John Keith Perry, Bean’s attorney, requested a delay, arguing that Bean might testify on his behalf during the federal sentencing hearing. Perry expressed concern that any statements Bean made under oath could impact his state trial, scheduled for April 28.
The former officers’ attorneys also raised objections to parts of their pre-sentencing reports, which will guide the judge in determining prison terms. These issues will be addressed in February through motions filed with the federal court.
Nichols’ Final Moments
Body camera footage from January 7, 2023, showed the five officers pepper-spraying and tasing Nichols, 29, during a traffic stop. Nichols fled, but the officers pursued him and delivered a brutal beating near his home, kicking, punching, and striking him with a police baton. In the footage, the officers are seen laughing and talking while Nichols cried out for his mother. He succumbed to his injuries three days later.
Following the incident, the officers were dismissed from the Memphis Police Department, charged with murder in state court, and indicted by a federal grand jury on civil rights and witness tampering charges.
Court Proceedings and Convictions
Martin and Mills reached plea agreements and pleaded guilty to federal charges. In October, Bean, Smith, and Haley were convicted of witness tampering related to covering up the incident. However, Bean and Smith were acquitted of civil rights violations involving excessive force and indifference to Nichols’ injuries.
Haley, meanwhile, was acquitted of violating Nichols’ civil rights resulting in death but found guilty of lesser charges for causing bodily injury.
Martin and Mills are expected to change their not guilty pleas in state court, according to legal representatives. Bean, Haley, and Smith have pleaded not guilty to the state charges.
National Outrage and Reform Efforts
Nichols’ death sparked widespread protests and renewed calls for police reform across the United States. The Memphis Police Department, a predominantly Black force led by Black Police Chief Cerelyn “CJ” Davis, has faced intense scrutiny.
A 17-month investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice found that the department used excessive force and disproportionately targeted Black individuals.
The five officers were members of the Scorpion Unit, a crime suppression team disbanded after Nichols’ death. While the unit aimed to tackle drugs, illegal firearms, and violent crime, its methods often involved force against unarmed individuals.
Nichols’ death continues to fuel discussions about systemic issues in policing and the urgent need for reform. Source: ABC News
