Three ex-officers found guilty of witness tampering in fatal beating of Tyre Nichols

[craig nigrelli]

A FEDERAL JURY CONVICTED THREE FORMER MEMPHIS POLICE OFFICERS ON THURSDAY IN THE 2023 BEATING DEATH OF TYRE NICHOLS, BUT THEY WERE ACQUITTED OF THE MOST SERIOUS CHARGES.  THE JURY FOUND TADARRIUS BEAN, DEMETRIUS HALEY, AND JUSTIN SMITH **GUILTY** OF WITNESS TAMPERING FOR COVERING UP THE ATTACK. HALEY WAS ALSO CONVICTED OF VIOLATING NICHOLS’ CIVIL RIGHTS.

NICHOLS DIED THREE DAYS AFTER THE OFFICERS BRUTALLY BEAT HIM FOLLOWING A TRAFFIC STOP. THE OFFICERS NOW FACE UP TO 20 YEARS IN PRISON FOR THE WITNESS TAMPERING CONVICTIONS WHILE HALEY’S CIVIL RIGHTS VIOLATION CONVICTION CARRIES UP TO 10 YEARS. SENTENCING IS PENDING WITH A HEARING SCHEDULED TO DETERMINE WHETHER THEY WILL REMAIN IN CUSTODY.

THE CASE HAS TRIGGERED FEDERAL INVESTIGATIONS INTO MEMPHIS POLICE PRACTICES, AND NICHOLS’ FAMILY HAS FILED A $550 MILLION LAWSUIT AGAINST THE CITY AND ITS POLICE DEPARTMENT.

In a statement, the Assistant U.S. Attorney,  who oversees the Justice Department’s civil rights division, said “Tyre Nichols should be alive today.”