Tyre Nichols death: Memphis police officers guilty of lesser federal charges – but still face state murder case
Three police officers have been convicted of witness tampering in the case of Tyre Nichols, who died after a prolonged beating during a traffic stop in Memphis.
However, they were cleared of civil rights charges that could have seen them locked up for life.
Mr Nichols, a father of one, died three days after officers punched, kicked and hit him with a baton in January 2023 as he was just yards from his home.
The 29-year-old’s death and a video of the incident – in which he cried out for his mother – sparked outrage in the US and led to police reform.
One of the officers, Demetrius Haley, was found guilty on two counts of “deprivation of rights resulting in bodily injury” – each of which carries a maximum 10-year sentence.
But the federal jury decided that offence did not result in Mr Nichols’ death, ruling out a possible life sentence.
Haley was also found guilty of two counts of witness tampering; while the other two officers, Tadarrius Bean and Justin Smith, were convicted on one witness tampering count but cleared of the civil rights charges.
Tyre Nichols was father to a young son
Two other officers had already pleaded guilty and testified against their colleagues, saying Mr Nichols had posed no threat.
All five of the men – who are all black – have been fired, and are also charged with second-degree murder in a state case, where they have pleaded not guilty. That trial has not yet begun.
Prosecutor Kathryn Gilbert told the court on Wednesday the officers tried to cover up what they did and never gave Mr Nichols any medical help.
“This wasn’t one punch. It was over and over and over and over and over again, and not one of these defendants tried to stop it,” Ms Gilbert said.
Clockwise from top left: Demetrius Haley, Desmond Mills Jr, Emmitt Martin III, Tadarrius Bean and Justin Smith
The court heard the officers had lied about the force they used – to medics treating Mr Nichols, their superviser and in written reports.
Jurors also heard they had claimed they pulled over Mr Nichols for driving dangerously, saying he had sped up to beat a red light.
Video showed them beating him for three minutes after he broke free and ran off when he was initially stopped.
A post-mortem showed he died from being hit in the head and sustained brain injuries, cuts and bruises, with haemorrhages throughout his body.
The defence tried to paint Mr Nichols as the main aggressor but one of the officers who agreed a plea deal, Emmitt Martin, testified he was not a threat and was “helpless” as they beat him.
He said the officers had understood afterwards “they weren’t going to tell on me, and I wasn’t going to tell on them”.
Desmond Mills, the other officer who took a plea deal, gave a tearful testimony saying he was sorry.
He said he participated in a cover-up hoping Mr Nichols would survive and the case would “blow over”.
Read more from Sky News:
Eminem to become a grandfather
Melania Trump speaks out on abortion rights
The US Justice Department is conducting several reviews into Memphis police, including examining its use of force, how it conducts arrests, and whether it carries out racially discriminatory policing.
Mr Nichols’ mother, RowVaughn Wells, is also suing the city and its police chief for $550m (£419m).
After Thursday’s verdict, she told reporters: “This has been a long journey for our family.
“I’m actually in shock right now because I still can’t believe all the stuff that’s going on. But we’re happy that they all have been convicted and they have been arrested.”
Elon Musk has said he is committed to remaining as Tesla’s chief executive for at least five years, as the electric carmaker faces pressure from consumers and the stock market over his work with Donald Trump’s government.
The world’s richest man said he will cut back on political spending after heavily backing the US president last year.
During a video appearance at the Qatar Economic Forum hosted by Bloomberg, a moderator asked: “Do you see yourself and are you committed to still being the chief executive of Tesla in five years’ time?”
Musk responded: “Yes.”
The moderator added: “No doubt about that at all?”
Musk chuckled and replied: “I can’t be still here if I’m dead.”
Tesla has borne the brunt of the outrage against Musk over his work with Mr Trump as part of his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which implemented cuts across the US federal government.
Asked if the reaction made him think twice about his involvement in politics, Musk said: “I did what needed to be done.
“I’m not someone who has ever committed violence and yet massive violence was committed against my companies, massive violence was threatened against me.”
He added: “Don’t worry: We’re coming for you.”
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Musk pulls back from D.O.G.E. role
Musk spent at least 250 million dollars (£187m) supporting Mr Trump in the presidential campaign, and even held some of his own campaign rallies.
“I’m going to do a lot less in the future,” Mr Musk said. Asked why, he responded: “I think I’ve done enough.”
And he added: “Well, if I see a reason to do political spending in the future, I will do it. I do not currently see a reason.”
Read more:
US has a red line in Ukraine-Russia talks, says Trump
King writes to Biden after he reveals cancer diagnosis
Aspirations to build ‘billions of humanoid robots’
It comes after a Tesla pay package Musk was due, once valued at $56bn (£41.8bn) was stopped by a judge in Delaware.
Musk referred to chancellor Kathaleen St Jude McCormick as an “activist who is cosplaying a judge in a Halloween costume”.
Listen to The World with Richard Engel and Yalda Hakim every Wednesday
But he acknowledged his Tesla pay was part of his consideration about staying with Tesla, though he also wanted “sufficient voting control” so he “cannot be ousted by activist investors”.
“It’s not a money thing, it’s a reasonable control thing over the future of the company, especially if we’re building millions, potentially billions of humanoid robots,” he added.
Donald Trump has announced the concept for his Golden Dome missile defence system – which includes plans for the US put weapons in space for the first time.
The “cutting-edge missile defence system” will include “space-based sensors and interceptors”, Mr Trump said, adding the Golden Dome “should be fully operational by the end of my term”.
The system – styled on Israel’s Iron Dome – will be able to detect and stop missiles at all points of attack, from before launch to when they are descending towards a target, the Trump administration has said.
Making the announcement in the Oval Office on Tuesday, Mr Trump told reporters the Golden Dome will be “capable of intercepting missiles even if they are launched from the other side of the world”.
The US president also said Canada “has called us and they want to be part of it”. “As usual, we help Canada as best we can,” he said.
Trump was flanked by two Golden Dome posters. Pic: AP
He has also pledged that the entire system to be built within the United States. Manufacturers in Georgia, Alaska, Florida and Indiana will all be heavily involved in the project, Mr Trump said.
General Michael Guetlein, who currently serves as the vice chief of space operations, will oversee the Golden Dome’s progress.
The space weapons “represent new and emerging requirements for missions that have never before been accomplished by military space organizations,” General Chance Saltzman, the head of the US Space Force, said at a hearing Tuesday.
Defence secretary Pete Hegseth joined the president for the announcement. Pic: AP
How much will the Golden Dome cost?
Mr Trump said he has allocated $25bn “to help get construction under way,” which he described as an initial down payment.
The total cost will be “about $175bn”, the US president added – but the Congressional Budget Office has put the price much higher.
The space-based components alone could cost as much as $542bn (£405bn) over the next 20 years, it estimated earlier this month.
More US news:
King Charles writes to Biden
Musk plans political spending cutback
Mr Trump’s announcement came shortly after the newly confirmed US Air Force secretary said there’s currently no money allocated for the Golden Dome.
The programme is “still in the conceptual stage,” Troy Meink told senators today.
👉 Follow Trump100 on your podcast app 👈
The Pentagon has for years warned that the newest missiles developed by Russia and China are so advanced counter measures are needed.
Both Russia and China have already put offensive weapons, such as satellites capable of disabling those of other countries, in space.
-
Sports3 years ago‘Storybook stuff’: Inside the night Bryce Harper sent the Phillies to the World Series
-
Sports1 year agoStory injured on diving stop, exits Red Sox game
-
Sports2 years agoGame 1 of WS least-watched in recorded history
-
Sports2 years agoMLB Rank 2023: Ranking baseball’s top 100 players
-
Sports4 years ago
Team Europe easily wins 4th straight Laver Cup
-
Environment2 years agoJapan and South Korea have a lot at stake in a free and open South China Sea
-
Environment2 years agoGame-changing Lectric XPedition launched as affordable electric cargo bike
-
Business3 years agoBank of England’s extraordinary response to government policy is almost unthinkable | Ed Conway