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Ex-US police officers plead not guilty to killing Tyre Nichols | Courts News

Five former officers face charges of second-degree murder, among others, in the death of a 29-year-old black driver in Memphis.

Five former US police officers have pleaded not guilty to the murder of Tire Nichols, who died after a violent traffic stop in Memphis sparked protests and new call to end police violence in the country.

Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Desmond Mills Jr, Emmitt Martin III and Justin Smith performed first court appearance with their attorney before a judge in Shelby County Criminal Court on Friday.

The former officers pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder, aggravated assault, aggravated kidnapping, official misconduct and official oppression in connection with the January 7 arrest of Nichols, which is recorded on video.

Footage shows police beating the 29-year-old father and a FedEx employee for three minutes in an assault that the Nichols family’s legal team likened to the police beating of the notorious Rodney King car driver last year. 1991.

Nichols’ mother, RowVaughn Wells, said Friday as she entered the courtroom in a black suit: “I’m numb, as numb as I can be right now. “They need to see my face.”

Nichols, who died in the hospital three days after traffic stoptried to converse with the police when they shouted orders and threatened him with violence during the ordeal.

“You guys are really doing a lot right now. I’m just trying to get home,” he said at one point, sitting in the street as police tried to restrain him. “Stop. I didn’t do anything,” Nichols said, just before breaking free and running away.

When police caught up with him, he was beaten while being restrained, beaten with batons and kicked while lying on the ground. He cried for his mother many times.

Five officers, all black, were fired from the police force and the special unit of which they were a member was disbanded. They were all released on bail and their next hearing has been scheduled for May 1.

“Patience. Work with your attorneys,” Judge James Jones Jr. told officers during Friday’s hearing. “There could be some emotional highs in this case.”

The case of Nichols recalls the year 2020 kill George Floydwho died after a police officer pressed his neck for more than nine minutes during an arrest in Minneapolis, Minnesota – and sparked mass protests around the world demanding an end to racism and police brutality.

Memphis police said Nichols was suspected of reckless driving, but there is no conclusive evidence of a traffic violation in public documents or in video footage.

The city’s police chief, Cerelyn “CJ” Davis, said she saw no evidence to justify the stoppage or police response. Davis also previously said the video of the fatal incident depicts “actions that defy humanity”.

Another white officer involved in the original traffic stop was fired, while another, unidentified officer, was suspended.

The Memphis case stands out for the speed at which officers are fired and charged. “We have NEVER seen justice this quick,” civil rights attorney Ben Crump tweeted Jan.



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