After five hours of deliberation, a jury has convicted a former Memphis police officer of civil rights violations related to the lethal beating of Tyre Nichols that occurred over 20 months ago. Demetrius Haley faced charges of excessive force, ignoring Nichols’ medical needs, conspiring to tamper with a witness, and witness tampering. While he was found guilty on all charges, the jury determined that the first two led to injury rather than death, leading to convictions on lesser charges.
Co-defendants Tadarrius Bean and Justin Smith Jr. were also found guilty of witness tampering. They were charged alongside former officers Emmitt Martin III and Desmond Mills Jr., both of whom accepted plea deals. Martin pleaded guilty to using excessive force and conspiring to tamper with a witness, facing a recommended 40-year sentence, while Mills accepted a 15-year recommendation. Both men testified for the prosecution.
The three convicted officers were taken into custody immediately, with a hearing set for Monday to discuss their potential release on bond before sentencing, scheduled for January 22. The maximum sentence for the other three officers could be life in federal prison, though the maximum for Haley remains unclear due to the lesser charges. Bean and Smith face up to 20 years, and all sentences will be served without parole.
Civil rights attorney Ben Crump noted that Nicholas’ parents expressed gratitude upon hearing the verdict. “Thank God all of them are going to jail for what they did to my boy,” said Rodney Wells, Nichols’ father. Keyana Dixon, Nichols’ sister, acknowledged it as a “bittersweet day” and expressed hope that the accountability shown in this case could help prevent similar incidents in the future.
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke commended the trial team and the jury, affirming their commitment to holding law enforcement accountable for civil rights violations. She underscored that all five officers involved in Nichols’ death have now been convicted of federal felonies.
The trial itself lasted nearly four weeks and was marked by a series of procedural delays and objections, which hindered its flow. Jurors considered testimony from numerous witnesses, extensive footage of the incident, and extensive documentation as evidence.
On January 7, 2023, Nichols was pulled over by police originally under the pretext of reckless driving. Officer Emmitt Martin testified that he believed Nichols was fleeing, prompting him to escalate the situation. Footage from the incident revealed officers forcibly removing Nichols from his vehicle and using force against him as they attempted to restrain him. Despite attempts to subdue him with pepper spray and a Taser, Nichols escaped briefly before being caught and severely beaten by several officers.
Following the assault, Nichols was critically injured, treated at St. Francis Hospital, and ultimately died three days later. This case continues to draw attention and will be updated as developments occur.