Defense attorneys questioned a police lieutenant during the trial of three ex-Memphis officers charged with federal civil rights violations in the deadly beating of Tyre Nichols. This lieutenant trained the officers involved and mentioned department policies, use of force, and handcuffing techniques during his testimony.
The three former officers, Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, and Justin Smith, pleaded not guilty to charges of excessive force, failure to intervene, and obstructing justice in Nichols’ death. Two other officers involved have accepted plea deals. The incident, in which five Black officers were recorded beating Nichols, resulted in his death three days later.
During the trial, the distinction between active and passive resistance was emphasized. The defense questioned the lack of specific definitions in the police department’s training manual regarding these terms. The lieutenant also acknowledged that handcuffs could be viewed as a deadly weapon under certain circumstances.
The defense lawyers raised concerns about officer performance being affected by factors like poor training, fatigue, and the use of pepper spray. The lieutenant agreed that these factors could impact an officer’s actions. He also stressed the importance of officers using proper restraint techniques and intervening if excessive force is being used.
The autopsy report revealed that Nichols died from head injuries sustained during the beating. The report detailed brain injuries, cuts, and bruises on his head and other parts of his body. All five officers were members of the now-disbanded Scorpion Unit and were terminated for violating department policies.
The former officers also faced second-degree murder charges in state court, where they pleaded not guilty. However, it is anticipated that two of them will change their pleas. The trial date for the state court proceedings has not been scheduled yet.