5 former Memphis, Tenn., police officers plead not guilty to murder in death of Tyre Nichols

Five former police officers in Memphis, Tenn., pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder and other charges in the violent arrest and death of Tire Nichols, with his mother saying after that no one will see eye to eye in court. .

Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Desmond Mills Jr., Emmitt Martin III and Justin Smith made their first court appearances with attorneys before a judge in Shelby County Criminal Court.

The officer was fired following an internal police investigation into the Jan. 7 arrest of Nichols, who died in hospital three days later. His beating was caught on video.

At a press conference after the hearing, Nichols’ mother, RowVaughn Wells, said the officers did not dare to look him in the eye but “they will look at me at every court date – every person – until we get justice for my son.”

“I feel numb right now,” Wells said. “And I’m waiting for this nightmare that’s basically what I’m going through right now, I’m waiting for someone to wake me up. I know it’s not going to happen.”

The officer pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder, aggravated assault, aggravated kidnapping, official misconduct and official oppression. They are all out on bail. The next hearing is scheduled for May 1.

Nichols’ case is the latest to spark national protests in the US and renew public discussion about police brutality. Nichols, 29, is Black. All five officers charged in the death are also Black.

Judge asks the public to be ‘patient’

Addressing the courtroom, Judge James Jones Jr. asking everyone to “continue to be patient” and “continue to be polite,” insisting that “this case may take some time.”

“We understand that there are some high emotions in this case, but we ask that you continue to be patient with us,” Jones said.

“Everyone involved wants this case to end quickly. But it’s important for all of you to know that the state of Tennessee, as well as everyone charged, has an absolute right to a fair trial.”

Bean’s attorney, John Keith Perry, told reporters afterward that Bean was on duty at the time and “never touched” Nichols. The statement was contradicted by the video recording.

Protester Casio Montez spoke through Perry, saying Nichols’ death was a murder: “You represent a murderer, bro.”

Blake Ballin, Mills’ attorney, said the process should be “based on facts and the law, and not the raw emotions that our country is experiencing.”

The public should be patient and careful in judging their clients, he said.

“Justice for Mr. Nichols will not be achieved at the expense of justice for Mr. Mills,” Ballin said.

Ballin also said the nation’s grief over Nichols’ death “really needs to be channeled to demand change in the way we police our communities.”

“It’s also important that we go beyond that demand in the way we treat minorities and low-income people in the criminal justice system,” he said. “Don’t forget that my client is a black man in an American courtroom.”

Attorneys for Martin and Smith did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Haley’s attorney declined to comment in an email.

Assistant Attorney General Paul Hagerman told reporters that “Memphis and the whole world must see that what is right has been done in this case, and it must happen sooner rather than later.”

Call for change in the Memphis police force

Nichols’ mother and stepfather, Rodney Wells, were in court along with their attorney, civil rights attorney Ben Crump.

“It’s a glorious day,” Rodney Wells said at a news conference after the hearing. “This is the beginning of the process.”

Nichols was stopped by police for a suspected traffic violation and pulled out of the car by officers who used profanity, with at least one brandishing a gun. An officer hit Nichols with a stun gun, but Nichols ran into a nearby home, according to video footage released by the city.

Officers who were part of the crime suppression team known as Scorpion caught up with Nichols and punched him, kicked him and slugged him with a baton as he screamed for his mother.

After the beating, the officers stood and talked to each other as Nichols struggled with his injuries on the ground, video shows. One of the officers took a photo of Nichols as he was pulled into an unmarked police car, video and footage show.

Nichols was taken to the hospital in an ambulance that left the scene 27 minutes after emergency medical technicians arrived, authorities said.

Police said Nichols had been suspected of reckless driving, but no verified evidence of a traffic violation appeared in public documents or on video footage. Memphis police chief Cerelyn “CJ” Davis said she saw no evidence that justified the stop or the officer’s response. He disbanded the Scorpion unit, which he created in November 2021, after Nichols’ death.

One other white officer involved in the initial traffic stop has been fired. An additional officer who has not been identified has been suspended.

Three Memphis Fire Department employees who were at the scene of the arrest have been fired. Two Shelby County sheriff’s deputies who were also there have been suspended without pay.

Nichols’ family, attorneys, community leaders and activists are calling for changes at the Memphis Police Department on issues related to traffic, use of force, transparency and other policies.

Some relatives and lawyers praised Davis and the department for the quick response and said it should be the standard for other investigations into police brutality.