In Memphis, Tennessee, the state court trial of three former policemen charged with second-degree murder following the death of Tyre Nichols will have a jury drawn from outside the city, as decided by a judge on Friday. The decision, made by Judge James Jones Jr., did not specify the origin of the jury, but it will likely be from another location within Tennessee. Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, and Justin Smith, ex-officers of the Memphis Police Department, are standing trial after pleading not guilty in relation to Nichols’ death.
Notably, two other officers involved, Emmitt Martin and Desmond Mills Jr., face the same murder charges but will not be tried in the same proceeding. Reports indicate that Martin and Mills will alter their not guilty pleas. Prosecutor Paul Hagerman, after a court session, confirmed that the jury would be sourced from a different part of Tennessee, and the trial commencement has been slated for April 28.
The incident in question occurred on January 7, 2023, when police footage captured authorities using pepper spray and a Taser on Nichols, aged 29, after stopping him for a traffic violation. Nichols attempted to flee but was pursued, with officers ultimately assaulting him just outside his residence while he cried out for his mother. The video also revealed the officers engaging in conversation amongst themselves, seemingly unconcerned as Nichols struggled.
Surviving the brutal encounter for three days, Nichols eventually succumbed to his injuries. Consequently, all five officers were terminated from their roles, faced murder charges at the state level, and were later indicted in a federal grand jury proceeding for civil rights violations and witness tampering. While Martin and Mills struck plea deals for the federal charges, the other three were found guilty in October for attempts to cover up the incident.
Bean and Smith managed to avoid conviction on charges of excessive force and showing indifference to Nichols’ grave condition. Meanwhile, Haley was acquitted of causing death through civil rights violations but convicted on lesser charges involving bodily harm. Sentencing in the federal case for all five officers remains forthcoming.
The profound impact of Nichols’ death ignited widespread protests across the nation, amplifying calls for systemic police reform. Intense scrutiny has since fallen on the Memphis Police Department, especially as it operates in a predominantly Black city. A pertinent U.S. Justice Department investigation concluded that the department has historical issues of excessive force and racial discrimination.
With over half of the force consisting of Black officers, including the Police Chief Cerelyn “CJ” Davis, the department’s practices have been critically assessed. The officers, part of the now-defunct Scorpion Unit, were initially tasked with tackling crimes such as drug offenses and illegal possession of firearms. Their aggressive approach, aimed at high arrest rates, often subjected unarmed individuals to undue force, leading to the unit’s disbandment following the tragic events involving Nichols.