” Gilbert noted that Emmitt Martin, one of two officers to take a plea deal, testified that Nichols was not a threat when police beat him.
She said the officers laughed and bragged about hitting Nichols, then lied about it to their supervisor and medical personnel to protect themselves.
“He was affected by that to his detriment, and the detriment of Tyre Nichols,” Leffler said.
Perry said Bean did not know whether Nichols had a weapon but still ran after him and tackled him.
None of the officers on trial testified in their defense.
As closing arguments for the federal trial of three Memphis police officers began on Wednesday, the prosecutor stated that the officers wanted to punish Tyre Nichols for running from a traffic stop in 2023 and believing they could get away with it. Tyre Nichols died as a result of their beatings.
Prosecutor Kathryn Gilbert told jurors during Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, and Justin Smith’s federal trial that the three men intended for the beating to be a “beatdown.” They are charged with violating Nichols’ civil rights and attempting to conceal the assault. That’s precisely what happened. “.
The prosecution has maintained that the beating was a component of a routine police procedure known as the “street tax” or “run tax” in officer jargon. .”.
As Gilbert pointed out, one of the two cops who accepted a plea bargain, Emmitt Martin, stated in court that Nichols posed no threat even after the police beat him. A picture of a grinning Nichols with hands in his pockets, a white shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, a vest, and a tie was presented to the jury by her.
She said that the officers lied to their supervisor and the medical staff to protect themselves after they had laughed and boasted about hitting Nichols.
“They disregarded Mr. Nichols’ life in favor of their own convenience and comfort,” she claimed.
According to Stephen Leffler, Haley’s attorney, his client only gave Nichols one arm kick in order to assist in getting him handcuffed. Additionally, he held Martin accountable for fabricating claims that Nichols attempted to seize Martin’s firearm during the traffic stop.
Leffler stated, “That affected him to his detriment and Tyre Nichols’ detriment.”.
The youngest officer, Nichols disregarded orders like “give me your hands,” according to Bean’s attorney, John Keith Perry, who also claimed that his client adhered to departmental guidelines. Perry claimed that even though Bean pursued and tackled Nichols, he was unaware of the presence of a weapon.
Perry declared, “The use of force was not excessive.”. “It was simply not.”. “.
According to an FBI agent who testified that Bean told him he punched Nichols in the head, Bean only struck Nichols in the hands in an attempt to seize them and cuff him, Perry claimed. Perry expressed doubts about Bean’s sincerity, pointing out that the agent’s interview with him was not videotaped.
In support of themselves, none of the officers on trial gave a testimony. To try to refute the prosecution’s claims that the officers beat Nichols excessively, failed to act, and concealed the severity of the beating from their superiors and the medical staff, they each summoned experts.
Perry warned the jury that Martin and Desmond Mills, the other former officer who entered a guilty plea and testified on behalf of the prosecutors, had lied to investigators about the events of the case. “.
On surveillance footage, five Black police officers can be seen punching, kicking, and hitting Black man Nichols as he called out for his mother a block from his house.
Gilbert remarked, “You witnessed the blows.”. “You observed the kicks. I saw the blows with the baton. “.
Prior to this Wednesday, U. s. Long jury instructions were read by District Judge Mark Norris.
Family friends of Nichols gathered in a circle outside the courthouse to hear Tennessee state Representative pray. holding hands with Justin Pearson. “Justice for Tyre” was the chant they used to conclude the prayer. During the closing arguments in court, Pearson sat beside RowVaughn Wells, the mother of Nichols, supporting her with a gentle rub of his hand on her back.
January saw Nichols’ death. 10, 2023, three days subsequent to the physical assault. As per the autopsy report, Nichols, who is the father of a 7-year-old boy, passed away due to injuries sustained to his head. His head wounds, as well as other cuts and bruises, are described in the report along with brain damage.
During the traffic stop, Nichols was subjected to pepper spray and a Taser by the officers; however, as seen on police video, the 29-year-old fled.
Each of the five cops was let go. Their role was to search for drugs, illegal firearms, and violent criminals as members of the Scorpion Unit. Following Nichols’ passing, it was dissolved.
In response to federal accusations of using excessive force, failing to act, and obstructing justice by tampering with witnesses, Haley, Bean, and Smith entered not guilty pleas. If found guilty, their sentence could be life in prison.
In response to different state accusations of second-degree murder, the five officers have entered not guilty pleas. In that instance, no trial date has been scheduled. It’s expected that Mills and Martin will modify their requests.