Tyre Nichols death: 5 former Memphis police officers plead not guilty to murder, other charges

The five former Memphis, Tennessee police officers charged with second-degree murder and other crimes in the death of Tyre Nichols pleaded not guilty Friday.

Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Desmond Mills Jr., Emmitt Martin III and Justin Smith made their first court appearances with their lawyers before a judge in Shelby County Criminal Court. 

The officers were fired after an internal police investigation into the Jan. 7 arrest of Nichols, who died in a hospital three days later. Footage released of the arrest showed the officers beating the 29-year-old Nichols.

The officers pleaded not guilty to charges of second-degree murder, aggravated assault, aggravated kidnapping, official misconduct and official oppression. They are all out on bond. Their next hearing has been scheduled for May 1.

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“Be patient. Work with your attorneys.” Judge James Jones Jr. said to the officers. “There may be some high emotions in this case.”

At the end of January, the Memphis Police Department released footage from the deadly traffic stop.

Betsy Brantner Smith, a retired police sergeant and trainer and the spokesperson for the National Police Association, said the video showed clear violations of proper training.

“Nobody teaches baton strikes above the shoulders, nobody teaches kicks to the head, nobody teaches the denial of medical aid,” she told Fox News Digital. “These men were street fighting, they were not acting as police officers.”

TYRE NICHOLS VIDEO: MEMPHIS AUTHORITIES RELEASE FOOTAGE FROM DEADLY TRAFFIC STOP

According to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, Nichols ran from officers after a traffic stop. Police caught up with him again less than a half-mile away, and allegedly beat him for three minutes straight, sending him to the hospital with critical injuries.

One other white officer who was involved in the initial traffic stop has been fired. An additional officer who has not been identified has been suspended.

 

Three Memphis Fire Department employees who were present at the site of the arrest have been fired, but they are appealing their terminations. Two Shelby County sheriff’s deputies who also were there have been suspended without pay for violations including failing to keep their body cameras on.

Nichols’ family, their lawyers, community leaders and activists have called for changes within the Police Department on issues related to traffic stops, use of force, transparency and other policies.

Fox News’ Michael Ruiz and The Associated Press contributed to this report.