Tyre Nichols: five ex-police officers plead not guilty to murder in first court appearance

Five former US police officers have pleaded not guilty of the second-degree murder of 29-year-old Memphis man Tyre Nichols, as well as a spate of other charges related to the violent arrest.

Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Justin Smith, Emmitt Martin III and Desmond Mills Jr made their first appearance before a judge on Friday, in the Shelby County Criminal Court in Memphis, Tennessee. Each faces charges of second-degree murder, aggravated assault, aggravated kidnapping, official misconduct and official oppression, CNN reports.

All five pleaded not guilty to all charges, and were released on bond until their next hearing on 1 May. Addressing the courtroom, Judge James Jones Jr asked for everyone’s “continued patience” and “continued civility”, stressing that “this case can take some time”.

“We understand that there may be some high emotions in this case, but we ask that you continue to be patient with us,” Judge Jones said. “Everyone involved wants this case to be concluded as quickly as possible. But it’s important for you all to understand that the state of Tennessee, as well as each one of these defendants, have an absolute right to a fair trial.”

Mills’ attorney Blake Ballin said the process must be “based on the facts and the law, and not the raw emotions that our country is experiencing”. The public should be patient and cautious in judging his client, he said.

Nichols was arrested during a traffic stop on 7 January, and the officers claimed he had been driving dangerously. He died in hospital three days later.

However, Memphis Police Director Cerelyn Davis said that her department has been unable to substantiate the reckless driving allegation that prompted the stop. She told The Associated Press there was no video of the traffic stop that showed Nichols driving recklessly, but that video showed the officers were “already ramped up”, and “aggressive, loud, using profane language,” from the beginning.

The five officers were fired after the Memphis Police Department held an internal investigation into Nichols arrest. All five were then charged in late January, and footage of Nichols’ beating was released to the public.

In the footage, five police officers can be seen holding down Tyre Nichols and striking him. The 29-year-old FedEx worker can be heard screaming for his mother as he is savagely beaten in the three minute ordeal.

Nichols’ death sparked outrage and large demonstrations in cities across the United States, on the back of other high-profile deaths of black men at the hands of police.

US President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris both condemned the actions of the officers. The president said in a statement that he was “outraged and deeply pained to see the horrific video” of the beating and said people who see it will be “justifiably outraged.”

Harris issued a statement that said: “Yet, once again, America mourns the life of a son and father brutally cut short at the hands of those sworn to protect and serve.” She said the video images would “open wounds that will never fully heal”.

A sixth Memphis officer was also fired earlier this month, after an internal police investigation showed he violated multiple department policies in Nichols’ arrest.

Preston Hemphill was the third officer at a traffic stop that preceded the violent arrest, but was not where Nichols was beaten.

On body camera footage from the initial stop, Mr Hemphill was heard saying that he stunned Mr Nichols and declaring: “I hope they stomp his ass.”