Memphis, Tenn. — In the upcoming trial for the beating death of Tyre Nichols, a Tennessee judge has decided that jurors will be selected from outside the local community. This decision comes in the case against three former Memphis police officers facing second-degree murder charges stemming from a January 2023 traffic stop incident.
On Friday, Shelby County Judge James Jones Jr. confirmed that Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, and Justin Smith, all former officers of the Memphis Police Department who pleaded not guilty, will face their trial with an external jury. Details regarding the specific location from where the jury will be drawn were not disclosed.
The proceedings are set to commence on April 28. Following the hearing, prosecutor Paul Hageran commented on the jury’s origin but did not provide further specifics, only noting that they would be brought in from elsewhere in Tennessee.
Nichols, 29, was subjected to pepper spray and a Taser attack by police, as shown in released video footage. Despite his attempts to flee, Nichols was captured close to his residence where he was beaten. Footage from police bodycams captured Nichols shouting for his mother during the assault and subsequently depicted the involved officers conversing and laughing nearby as Nichols lay severely injured.
This confrontation led to Nichols’ death just three days later. Subsequent to their actions, the five officers were terminated from their duties and faced multiple charges including murder in state court and violations of civil rights and witness tampering federally.
In related proceedings, Emmitt Martin and Desmond Mills Jr., both similarly charged, opted for a plea change, distancing themselves from their fellow former officers’ forthcoming trial. In the federal realm, both have plead guilty to several charges having procured agreements with prosecutors.
As for Haley, although he was cleared of directly causing Nichols’ death through civil rights violations, he was found guilty on charges of causing bodily injury. The other three officers were acquitted of excessive force but were convicted of witness tampering concerning the events’ cover-up.
Sentencing for the federal charges against all five men remains pending. Meanwhile, the tragedy has sparked national outcries for police reform and brought the Memphis Police Department under severe scrutiny, with investigations revealing a pattern of excessive force and racial discrimination.
The implications of Nichols’ death reach beyond the courtroom, prompting a U.S. Justice Department investigation into the Memphis Police Department’s practices. Amidst public demand for change, the Scorpion Unit, to which the officers belonged, was dismantled. This specialized group had been focused on high-arrest operations concerning drugs and weapons but was frequently criticized for its aggressive tactics against unarmed individuals.
The story of Tyre Nichols’ tragic end continues to unfold, underlining ongoing concerns about law enforcement practices across the United States, particularly in cities like Memphis with significant Black populations and leadership.
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