3 ex-officers convicted of witness tampering in Tyre Nichols' death
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A candlelight vigil in memory of Tyre Nichols in January 2023 in Memphis, Tennessee. Photo: Scott Olson/Getty Images
Three former Memphis police officers were convicted Thursday on charges of witness tampering in connection to Tyre Nichols' fatal beating in January 2023, the Justice Department announced.
The big picture: All three men were acquitted of the more serious charge of violating civil rights by causing the death of Nichols, a 29-year-old Black man who died from his injuries days after he was violently beaten by officers during a traffic stop.
Zoom in: Demetrius Haley was convicted of a lesser charge of violating Nichols' civil rights by causing bodily injury. Tadarrius Bean and Justin Smith were acquitted of civil rights charges.
- Haley was also convicted of conspiracy to witness tamper.
- "The jury found that Haley's conduct resulted in bodily injury to Nichols," per a Department of Justice statement.
- "The jury also found that Haley deprived Nichols of his constitutional right to be free from a police officer's deliberate indifference to his serious medical needs resulting in bodily injury to Nichols."
- All three men were convicted "for their effort to cover up the use of excessive force against Nichols," the DOJ said.
Catch up quick: Five former officers — Bean, Haley, Smith, along with Emmitt Martin III and Desmond Mills Jr. — were indicted in state and federal cases last year in connection with the incident.
- Bean, Haley and Smith had all pleaded not guilty.
- Mills pleaded guilty to federal charges last November as part of a plea agreement. Martin did the same in August.
- Their trials on state charges, including second-degree murder, are pending until federal proceedings are complete.
Context: The Memphis Police Department publicly released graphic footage of the encounter between Nichols and the officers, spurring horrified reactions from the public and protests.
- The police force fired the involved officers following Nichols' death.
What they're saying: Civil rights attorneys Ben Crump and Antonio Romanucci said in a statement following the verdict that "justice has prevailed for Tyre Nichols and his family."
- The guilty verdicts "send a powerful message that law enforcement officers who commit crimes will be held accountable under the law," they said, adding that Nichols' family is "relieved."
- "Tyre should be alive today, and while nothing can bring him back, today's guilty verdicts bring a measure of accountability for his senseless and tragic death," they added.
Go deeper:
- Federal trial set to begin for ex-officers charged in Tyre Nichols' death
- What we know about the fatal police beating of Tyre Nichols
- U.S. reacts to video of Tyre Nichols' fatal beating by Memphis police
Editor's note: This article has been updated with comment from the Justice Department and civil rights attorneys Ben Crump and Antonio Romanucci.
