Three former Memphis police officers have been convicted of witness tampering related to the death of Tyre Nichols, a 29-year-old man who was severely beaten during a traffic stop in January 2023. Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, and Justin Smith were part of a group of five officers charged with using excessive force against Nichols during the incident on January 7, 2023. The other two officers had previously pleaded guilty to related charges. Although Bean, Haley, and Smith were found guilty of one count of obstructing justice through witness tampering, they were acquitted of more serious civil rights violation charges that could have led to life imprisonment. All the officers involved and Nichols were Black.
The jury reached their verdict after approximately six hours of deliberation following a nearly month-long trial. The three men could face up to 20 years in prison, with sentencing set for January 22. Additionally, Haley was convicted of conspiracy to commit witness tampering. Attorneys representing Nichols’ family commended the verdicts, stating that they send a strong message that law enforcement will be held accountable for criminal actions. “Tyre should be alive today,” said lawyers Ben Crump and Antonio Romanucci. “While nothing can bring him back, today’s guilty verdicts bring a measure of accountability for his senseless and tragic death.”
Outside the courthouse, Nichols’ mother, RowVaughn Wells, expressed gratitude for the jury’s decision, stating, “This has been a long journey for our family. I’m still in shock right now. We’re happy that they’ve all been convicted, and they’ve been arrested.” The five officers were part of Memphis police’s now-defunct Scorpion Task Force, which aimed to reduce crime rates in the city. Video footage from the incident depicted Nichols being pulled over for alleged reckless driving, followed by a struggle where officers deployed pepper spray and a Taser. Nichols was subsequently assaulted by the officers as he pleaded for his mother and died three days later, with an examination determining the cause of death as homicide from blunt-force trauma.