In Memphis, a Tennessee courtroom heard testimony from a cybercrime specialist linked to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation regarding a disturbing incident involving a former Memphis police officer and the death of Tyre Nichols. The unsettling case centers on the officer, who allegedly took a photograph of Nichols, showing him suffering from severe injuries following a violent encounter.
Three former officers—Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, and Justin Smith—stand trial on multiple serious state charges, including second-degree murder. The trio’s legal woes are compounded by prior federal convictions that could see them spend extensive years behind bars. Nichols, a 29-year-old African American, tragically died after attempting to escape a chaotic traffic stop in January 2023. Pulled from his vehicle, pepper-sprayed, and Tasered, Nichols was later captured, brutally beaten by five Black officers, shortly before calling out for his mother while his home was nearby.
The harrowing scene, immortalized by a police surveillance camera, depicts the officers causally conversing and laughing as Nichols struggled. The event sparked a wave of national protests, with demands for police reform echoing across the country, and particularly placing the police force in the predominantly Black city of Memphis under scrutiny. TBI Special Agent Derek Miller revealed in court that Haley took a picture of a severely injured Nichols, seated and leaning against a patrol car. This photo was disseminated 11 times, accompanied by text exchanges with eight individuals, underscoring a disturbing breach of ethics.
The officers face charges ranging from second-degree murder and aggravated assault to aggravated kidnapping, and official misconduct. Prosecutors maintain that these officers failed in their duty to intervene in the beating and provide critical information to medical personnel. Among the officers involved, Desmond Mills Jr. and Emmitt Martin have opted for plea deals in their state cases, acknowledging guilt in separate federal legal proceedings, with their sentences pending.
Defense attorneys for the remaining accused officers have countered by questioning the narrative of unnecessary force, suggesting Nichols’ resistance included fleeing and not cooperating with handcuffing efforts. They argue that the officers’ actions were in line with departmental training and protocols. Mills confessed remorse for not halting the assault, which contributed to Nichols’ subsequent death due to blunt force trauma, confirmed by medical examiner Dr. Marco Ross. Nichols suffered significant brain injuries from the incident. Mills recounted his role in the altercation, noting his use of pepper spray and baton strikes, while Martin and Haley also inflicted physical harm.
Amidst the unfolding trial, defense attorney Martin Zummach brought forth Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Special Agent Charles Baker. Baker testified about several items found in Nichols’ vehicle following the beating—credit and debit cards, and IDs that did not belong to Nichols. A separate witness, Kelli Rogers, reported the theft of her wallet, containing such items, from her car in 2022. Though Nichols allegedly had these stolen items, law enforcement officers stated they were unaware at the time of Nichols’ rash driving allegations and ensuing stop. When queried if such discoveries affected the investigation’s gravity, Baker asserted that regardless of possessions in the car, the severity of the case remained unaffected. Zummach suggested that Nichols’ actions might have been motivated by a desire to distance himself from alleged stolen goods.
Mushrooms with the psychoactive compound psilocybin were also discovered in Nichol’s vehicle. However, Dr. Ross indicated that Nichols’ system was free from such substances. Former officer Preston Hemphill, who was present at the traffic stop but absent from the beating location, testified about an alleged struggle over a firearm, complicating the case’s narrative further. Captured on body camera footage, Hemphill disclosed his intent during the confrontation, expressing a disturbing hope for greater violence against Nichols. Hemphill, though dismissed from service, didn’t face criminal charges.