Verdicts reached for 3 former Memphis officers charged in the fatal beating of Tyre Nichols

MEMPHIS, Tenn.— The jury has reached verdicts for three former Memphis police officers charged with violating Tyre Nichols’ federal civil rights in a 2023 videotaped fatal beating that sparked national protests and calls for broad changes in policing.After a nearly monthlong trial, jurors informed the judge Thursday that they had agreed on their verdicts in the case against Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley and Justin Smith.

The parties and attorneys were reconvening for the reveal of the jury’s decisions.Jurors began their deliberations Thursday, a day after prosecutors and defense attorneys presented closing arguments.Bean, Haley and Smith were among five officers who were fired from the Memphis Police Department after the Jan.

7, 2023, beating.Prosecutor Kathryn Gilbert told jurors that the officers wanted to punish Nichols for running from a traffic stop and that they thought they could get away with it.Prosecutors argued the beating reflected a common police practice that officers refer to as the “street tax” or “run tax. ”“They wanted it to be a beatdown,” Gilbert said.

“That’s what it was.”Defense lawyers sought to downplay their clients’ involvement.Bean’s attorney, John Keith Perry, told jurors that Nichols ignored commands such as “give me your hands” and said his client followed department policies.“The force was not excessive,” Perry said.Throughout the trial, jurors repeatedly watched clips of graphic police video of the beating and traffic stop that preceded it.The video shows officers using pepper spray and a Taser on Nichols, who was black, before the 29-year-old ran away.

The five officers, who also are black, then punched, kicked and hit him about a block from his home, as he called out for his mother.As they held Nichols, officers said, “hit him,” and “beat that man,” prosecutor Forrest Christian said during closing arguments.“This was not a fight.This was just a beating,” Christian said....