Trial Begins for Memphis Officers Charged in Tyre Nichols' Death

Three former officers face federal charges for the January 2023 beating of Tyre Nichols, which sparked outrage and police reforms.

Opening statements revealed that the officers allegedly laughed at Nichols as he lay dying after being beaten, pepper-sprayed, and tased.
Prosecutors argue that Nichols posed no threat and was excessively punished for fleeing a traffic stop, a practice referred to as a 'run tax'.
Two of the five officers involved have pleaded guilty and are expected to testify against their former colleagues.
The defense claims the officers acted within their training and that Nichols resisted arrest, driving dangerously before the confrontation.
The trial has prompted significant public and media attention, with Nichols' family seeking justice through a $550 million lawsuit against the city of Memphis.