A Tennessee jury eliminated Wednesday Three former Memphis police officers from all the state accusations resulting from a deadly black motorist who sparked demonstrations across the country two years ago.
Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley and Justin Smith were declared guilty of second degree murder, among other accusations, in the death of Nichols.
Justice James Jones Jr. ordered the men immediately released. All three were overwhelmed by emotion while tightened and their lawyers in the hearing room in Memphis.
The former officers of Memphis had already faced bars after being convicted of federal accusations resulting from the death of Nichols.
Employee of Fedex and budding photographer, Nichols was arrested for alleged reckless driving around 8:24 p.m. on January 7, 2023.
“Take out the F — by the car f —-!” An officer shouted by pulling his car nichols.
“I didn’t do anything,” replied Nichols.
While he was on the sidewalk, the officers could be seen using peppery gas and a taser on Nichols before fleeing on foot.
He ran to his mother’s home, but the police who finally caught up with him about 80 meters from this house, officials said.
Images of body cameras have shown that Nichols was beaten and kicked while absorbing more spray with pepper.
Nichols shouted “mom!” Because he was beaten during the second confrontation with the police.
A police training officer and an expert in the use of the force testified for prosecutors and qualified the actions taken by the police against “useless” and “excessive” Nichols.
The blows reflected a practice of the common police known under the name of “street tax” or “racing tax” to abuse a suspect who runs away, prosecutors said.
The death of Nichols, three days after the blows, sparked demonstrations against police brutality across the country.
The victim’s parents were guests of the White House for the Union of the Union of President Joe Biden a few weeks later.
