One of the ex-officers accused in the beating death of Tyre Nichols took accountability for Nichols’ death during investigation interviews, an FBI agent testified Thursday at the federal trial of three former Memphis police officers facing charges in the January 2023 death.Anthony Householder, the FBI agent who interviewed former officers Justin Smith and Tadarrius Bean about the case during the investigation, claimed that Smith took accountability for his actions during the encounter, according to WATN, the ABC affiliate in Memphis covering the case in the courtroom.Householder said that Smith told him that he knew Emmitt Martin III, his former colleague, was angry and "seeing red" that night, and he told Householder it was a "coward move" for Martin to kick Nichols, according to WATN.Smith, Bean and Demetrius Haley were charged on Sept.12, 2023, with violating Nichols' civil rights through excessive use of force, unlawful assault, failing to intervene in the assault and failing to render medical aid.
These charges carry a maximum penalty of life in prison if convicted, according to the U.S.Department of Justice.
The officers have pleaded not guilty to all charges.This combo of booking images provided by the Shelby County, Tenn., Sheriff's Office shows, from left, Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley and Justin Smith.Shelby County Sheriff's Office via APMartin and Desmond Mills Jr., the two other officers who were also charged in this case, have pleaded guilty to some of the federal charges.Mills pleaded guilty to two of the four counts in the indictment -- excessive force and failing to intervene, as well as conspiring to cover up his use of unlawful force, according to the DOJ.The government said it will recommend a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison, based on the terms of Mills' plea agreement.Martin pleaded guilty to excessive force and failure to intervene, as well as conspiracy to witness tamper, according to court records.
The other two charges will be dr...