Former law enforcement officer allegedly snapped photo of Tyre Nichols post-fatal beating on 11 different occasions, according to investigator's report.
A cybercrime investigator with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation disclosed in court on Wednesday that a former Memphis police officer, who's now facing charges for Tyre Nichols' brutal beating, snapped a photo of the injured Nichols with his phone. The image, taken while Nichols was leaning against a police car, struggling mightily, was shared by Tadarrius Bean - one of the defendants - 11 times.
In the ongoing trial, Bean, Demetrius Haley and Justin Smith are all pleading not guilty to state charges including second-degree murder. These three guys have already served time for federal charges last year, but this state trial could see them facing even more years in prison.
Nichols, a 29-year-old African American man, met a terrifying fate after a violent altercation with the police. His ordeal began with a traffic stop, which devolved into a wild scene where he was dragged out of his vehicle, pepper-sprayed, Tasered, and brutally beaten by five officers, all of whom are also African American. The beating was caught on camera, shaking the nation, fueling calls for police reform across the United States, and shining an intense spotlight on the Memphis Police Department, a majority-Black city.
The video footage provided a chilling image of the officers milling about, laughing, and conversing among themselves as Nichols fought for his life. His tragic death from blunt force trauma three days after the incident left many questioning the actions of these officers. Dr. Marco Ross, the medical examiner who performed the autopsy, testified that Nichols suffered brain injuries similar to those sustained in a car accident.
But why did the officers do this? On Tuesday, defense attorneys questioned the use of force against Nichols, with a former Memphis officer, Desmond Mills Jr., taking the stand as a witness for the prosecution. Mills regretted his failure to intervene, admitting that he physically assaulted Nichols with a baton out of anger, after accidentally pepper- spraying himself.
Mills was not the only officer involved in the beating who expressed remorse. Emmitt Martin, another officer involved in the incident, also agreed to plead guilty to the charges against him and is not standing trial. Both Mills and Martin have also pleaded guilty in federal court, awaiting sentencing alongside the other officers.
The beating of Tyre Nichols has left many communities reeling, raising concerns about the use of excessive force and racial bias by the police. In December 2023, the Justice Department announced the results of a 17-month investigation, revealing that the Memphis Police Department is guilty of using excessive force and discriminating against African Americans.
- Tadarrius Bean, one of the defendants in the Tyre Nichols case, shared an image of Nichols on his phone, taken by another defendant, which was shared 11 times.
- In the trial for the brutal beating of Tyre Nichols, Demetrius Haley, Justin Smith, and the defendant Tadarrius Bean are pleading not guilty to state charges including second-degree murder.
- The general-news and crime-and-justice sectors have been heavily focused on the trial of the three defendants in the Tyre Nichols case, whose actions are being scrutinized due to the severe consequences they may face.
- Remorseful former Memphis police officer, Desmond Mills Jr., took the stand as a witness for the prosecution earlier this week in the Tyre Nichols case, agreeing to testify against other defendants and facing charges for his involvement in the beating.
