3 Memphis Police Officers Acquitted on All State Charges in Connection with Tyre Nichols' Beating Death
Tyre Nichols' brutal beating death in 2023 was caught on camera
Five Memphis officers had been charged in connection with his death
Two of them had pleaded guilty to state and federal charges stemming from the killing
Three officers who were present during the brutal killing of a Tennessee man have been found not guilty on all state charges, including murder, stemming from the 2023 case.
Justin Smith, Demetrius Haley and Tadarrius Bean were among five officers charged in Nichols' brutal beating outside his mother's home in January 2023. A jury acquitted them on Wednesday, May 7, following a trial in Memphis, Tenn., the Associated Press reported.
Nichols, a 29-year-old aspiring photographer who loved skateboarding, was stopped by officers for alleged reckless driving on Jan. 7, 2023. However, Memphis Police Chief C.J. Davis would claim to CNN soon afterwards they were unable to "substantiate" the reckless driving allegation.
facebook Tyre Nichols
Former Memphis officer Desmond Mills Jr., one of two officers who pleaded guilty to state charges, testified for the prosecution, per AP.
Officers were caught on camera allegedly beating Nichols and laughing as he lay struggling, per the AP.
Related: Tyre Nichols' Last 3 Words Were, 'Mom, Mom. Mom,' Says Lawyer, as Family Calls for Peaceful Protests
Footage of Nichols' killing, which was released by Memphis officials, sparked massive protests across the country.
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The officers had been charged with second-degree murder, aggravated assault, aggravated kidnapping, multiple counts of misconduct and official oppression.
While they were acquitted on the state charges, Smith, Haley and Bean are awaiting sentencing on their conviction on federal charges last year, per AP.
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