Police Acquittal in Tyre Nichols' Death: American Officers Freed from Murder Charges in Motorist Incident
Unbelievable, y'all! Three ex-cops who call themselves Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, and Justin Smith, once proud servants of the badge, have managed to wriggle out of the grisly murder of Tyre Nichols, a young dad of one. But don't think they're off the hook just yet – they've got a whole heap of federal charges coming their way, with sentencing still looming in the future.
This outrageous acquittal came after a nine-day trial inside Tennessee's state court, where they were also cleared of aggravated assault, aggravated kidnapping, official misconduct, and official oppression.
Remember that gut-wrenching footage of Tyre – a 29-year-old Black man – pleading for his mama while being pounded by these so-called officers not far from his front door? It set off waves of protests and calls for reform across the States. Now, civil rights attorney Ben Crump, representing Tyre's family, calls this verdict a "devastating miscarriage of justice."
Hearing that, Steve Mulroy, the district attorney of Memphis, couldn't help but marvel, "I was astonished that there wasn't a single guilty verdict on any of the counts. The most serious charge was second-degree murder." He added that Tyre's family felt "devastated" and "outraged."
Even with this state court victory, it seems the trio will be spending plenty of time behind bars. They've already been convicted of federal charges of witness tampering last year, which means big trouble is on the horizon. And two other ex-cops, Emmitt Martin and Desmond Mills Jr., who've taken their lumps by pleading guilty to federal civil rights and conspiracy charges relating to Tyre's death, will also be receiving their punishments sooner or later.
So, while they may have danced their way out of the state trial, the last laugh could still belong to justice. Tune in for more updates as this story unfolds!
[1] Three ex-cops acquitted in Tyre Nichols beating, but still facing federal charges, The Associated Press, March 30, 2023.[2] Federal charges for all five ex-officers in Tyre Nichols' death, The Associated Press, August 12, 2022.
The acquitted defendants, Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, and Justin Smith, are still facing federal charges for their alleged involvement in the murder of Tyre Nichols.
Dismayed by the acquittal, civil rights attorney Ben Crump called it a "devastating miscarriage of justice."
Steve Mulroy, the Memphis district attorney, expressed shock at the absence of guilty verdicts in the state trial, stating, "The most serious charge was second-degree murder."
Even with their state court victory, the ex-cops, including Emmitt Martin and Desmond Mills Jr., who have already been convicted of federal charges of witness tampering, await their punishments.
