Trial Begins for Three Memphis Officers in Tyre Nichols' Death

The officers face federal charges for the January 2023 beating that led to Nichols' death and spurred police reform efforts.

Three former Memphis police officers, Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, and Justin Smith, are on trial for violating Tyre Nichols' civil rights and obstructing justice.
Nichols, a 29-year-old Black man, died three days after being beaten by the officers following a traffic stop on January 7, 2023.
Two other officers involved, Emmitt Martin III and Desmond Mills Jr., have already pleaded guilty and may testify against their former colleagues.
The trial, expected to last three to four weeks, will feature body camera footage showing the brutal beating of Nichols.
The case has led to significant police reforms in Memphis, although some state-level efforts to block these reforms have been reported.