Jury Acquits 2 Officers Of Violating Tyre Nichols Civil Rights But Convicts Them On Other Charges

A federal jury acquitted two former Memphis police officers on Thursday for violating the civil rights of Tyre Nichols , a 29-year-old Black man, in January 2023 during a traffic stop just minutes away from his parents home. They were convicted of witness tampering, and a third officer was convicted of violating Nichols civil rights, though on a lesser charge. 

Tadarrius Bean and Justin Smith were acquitted on the civil rights charges while Demetrius Haley was found guilty of violating his civil rights causing bodily injury but Haley was acquitted of violating Nichols civil rights causing death.

The mixed verdict was delivered before federal Judge Mark Norris in the citys Odell Horton federal courthouse. Defense attorneys for Bean and Haley rested their case last week. Smiths attorney argued his case on Monday . 

Jurors began deliberations Thursday.

Civil rights attorneys Benjamin Crump and Antonio Romanucci said the jurys verdict sends a powerful message to police officers.

Tyres family is relieved that all three officers were found guilty and taken into custody for their loved ones death. Tyre should be alive today, and while nothing can bring them back, todays guilty verdicts bring a measure of accountability for his senseless tragic death, their statement said.

We hope this moment serves as a reminder that our fight for justice for Tyre is far from over. We will continue to push for justice in the state criminal case and civil case, so that no family has to endure this heartache again. Our thoughts are with Tyres family as they continue to navigate this painful journey.

All three officers attorneys argued that Memphis police policies taught officers to use the type of force they did against Nichols on the night of Jan. 7, 2023, which included punches and kicks.

Prosecutors argued against that notion two weeks before the defenses argument after several witnesses who were former Memphis police officers condemned the actions of the officers that night.

Memphis police Lt. Larnce Wright, who trains officers in the police academy, said officers did not follow the training they were taught. He also said Nichols never posed a threat to officers during the fatal encounter.

It is not consistent with our training, Wright told prosecutors in September.

Emmitt Martin and Desmond Mills, two other former officers who were involved in the beating, had pleaded guilty to civil rights violations and conspiracy charges before the trial started.

Mills is the only officer to plead guilty to state-level offenses. The other four officers face state murder charges in Nichols case. 

Nichols died in a hospital three days after the violent interaction with the five former police officers. When his parents arrived at the hospital last year, they saw his eyes swollen shut and several bruises on his face, which made them question the legitimacy of the polices account of what occurred that night.

All three former Memphis Police Department officers were convicted of federal felonies for their role in Tyre Nichols death, Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Departments Civil Rights Division said in a statement Thursday.

They join two additional former officers who had already pled guilty. With these convictions, all five of the former officers involved in the death of Mr. Nichols have been convicted of federal felonies. Tyre Nichols should be alive today. We extend our condolences to the family and loved ones of Mr. Nichols. We hope this prosecution provides some measure of comfort as the law enforcement officers tied to his death have been held accountable.

The case sparked national outrage and protests, drawing comparisons to the violent beating of Rodney King decades ago in California.

Nichols parents, RowVaughn and Rodney Wells, have called for police reform at both the national and state level following their sons death. 

A date for the state-level trial has not yet been set.