Three former Memphis Police Department officers were acquitted on May 7 of all state charges relating to the 2023 death of Tyre Nichols, the 29-year-old black man who died after being beaten by police during a traffic stop.
An out-of-town jury deliberated for more than eight hours over two days before finding Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, and Justin Smith not guilty on all charges, including second-degree murder, aggravated assault, aggravated kidnapping, official misconduct, and official oppression.
The verdict followed a nine-day trial in state court in Memphis.
Martin Zummach, Smith’s attorney, said: “It’s easy to defend a good person. It’s nerve racking to represent an innocent man.”
The three men are among five officers, including Emmitt Martin III and Desmond Mills Jr., who were accused of severely beating Nichols during a Jan. 7 traffic stop. All of the officers are also black.
Bean and Smith are out on bond and under house arrest following their federal convictions. Haley is being held in federal prison.
Officers also kicked and punched him multiple times, including with a police baton, the DOJ said.
Police Found Unknown Credit, Debit Cards During Search
The Chief Medical Examiner for the West Tennessee Regional Forensic Center ruled his death was caused by blunt force trauma to the head, which included rotational brain injury and brain bleeding, and extensive blunt force injuries to his neck, arms, legs, and torso.The incident prompted intense scrutiny of police in Memphis and sparked nationwide protests and calls for police reforms.
Defense lawyers argued during the trial that the fatal beating would not have taken place if Nichols had just allowed himself to be handcuffed.
Smith’s attorney said in closing arguments that credit and debit cards that did not belong to Nichols were found in his car during a search. He said this is likely why Nichols ran from the traffic stop.
“Today’s verdict in the trial of the officers involved in Tyre Nichols’ death is devastating. But we must never let the brutality that ended his life overshadow the beauty of how he lived. Tyre was a father, a son, a skateboarder who loved sunsets and photography. He wanted to live and experience the best out of life,” the statement reads. “His death has forever changed us—but his legacy will live on. We’ll make sure of it.”
Memphis District Attorney Steve Mulroy said he respects the jury but was surprised by the lack of guilty verdicts.
Mulroy added that he had spoken to Nichols’ family briefly and, “They were devastated.”
“I think they were outraged, and we can understand why they would be outraged, given the evidence,” he said.
