(Photo: The Memphis Police Department)
On Friday, the five former Memphis Police Department officers charged in the death of Tyre Nichols, a 29-year-old Black man who died days after being beaten by police in January, pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder and other charges, AP News reported.
The former officers also faced charges of aggravated assault, aggravated kidnapping, official misconduct, and official oppression in Shelby County Criminal Court.
At the arraignment hearing, Nichols’ mother, stepfather, and their civil rights attorney were present, as was the judge, who warned that the case might take some time and asked the officers to work with their attorneys and be patient. The department fired the officers after an internal investigation found they violated departmental policies during the stop.
So far, the department has relieved a total of seven officers involved in the traffic stop as part of its ongoing investigation into Nichols’ death and has formally fired six officers. According to Shelby County assistant district attorney Paul Hagerman, the investigation is continuing, and additional charges may be filed.
Footage from the stop, which includes graphic, violent content, showed at least five officers kicking and punching Nichols or hitting him with a baton and forcing him to the ground over at least three minutes. Late last month, Memphis publicly released at least some of the footage from the stop. In the clips, Nichols is heard pleading for his mother as officers ignore his requests for them to stop.
Tyre Nichols’ mother RowVaughn Wells, ,responds after all five former Memphis police officers pleaded not guilty on Friday.
“I know my son is gone. I know I’ll never see him again, but we have to start this process of justice right now.”
The department initially said the officers pulled Nichols over for reckless driving, but it later said it could not substantiate its earlier claim after a review of the footage. According to attorneys hired by his family, Nichols died in the hospital on Jan. 10, three days after the beating. An official cause of death for Nichols has not been issued by the Shelby County medical examiner’s office.
The defendants, who are out on bail, will have another hearing on May 1. The investigation goes on, and the district attorney’s office is committed to ensuring that everyone who took part in the criminality is brought to justice in this case, said Hagerman.
