5 police officers deny murdering unarmed Tyre Nichols who was beaten to death
The five officers facing charges of murder over the fatal beating of an unarmed man have pleaded not guilty in court in front of the victim's family.
They made their first court appearance in Memphis on Friday for the alleged murder of Tyre Nichols after a video showed him being beaten to death and sparked anger worldwide.
"Be patient. Work with your attorneys," Judge James Jones Jr. said to the officers.
"There may be some high emotions in this case."
Nichols' mother, RowVaughn Wells, and stepfather, Rodney Wells, were in court along with their lawyer, civil rights attorney Ben Crump.
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The court is expected to continue at May 1.
The five officers in court (Sky News)Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Desmond Mills Jr, Emmitt Martin III, Justin Smith and their lawyers appeared before a judge in Shelby County Criminal Court in Memphis, Tennessee.
All five officers have pleaded not-guilty.
The officers were dismissed after an internal Memphis Police Department investigation into the January 7 arrest of the 29-year-old.
The family is set to release a statement outside the court house.
In the shocking footage later released, the world saw the five officers brutally beat Tyre Nichols who died in a hospital three days later.
In addition to second-degree murder, the officers also have been charged with aggravated assault, aggravated kidnapping, official misconduct and official oppression. They are all on bail.
(Uncredited/AP/REX/Shutterstock)Mr Nichols' death is the latest police killing to prompt nationwide protests and renew an intense public discussion about police brutality.
Mr Nichols was stopped for an alleged traffic violation and pulled out of his car by officers who swore, with at least one brandishing a gun, records showed.
An officer hit Mr Nichols with a stun gun, but Mr Nichols ran away towards his nearby home, according to video released by the city.
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(Uncredited/AP/REX/Shutterstock)Officers, who were part of a crime-suppression team known as the Scorpion unit caught up with Mr Nichols and punched, kicked and hit him with a baton as he yelled for his mum.
After the beating, officers stood by and talked to one another as Mr Nichols lay slumped against a car, video showed. One officer took photos of Mr Nichols as he was propped up against an unmarked police car, according to video and records.
Mr Nichols was taken to a hospital in an ambulance that left the scene of the beating 27 minutes after emergency medical technicians arrived, authorities said.
One of the officers stands behind his lawyer (Sky News)Police said Mr Nichols had been suspected of reckless driving, but no verified evidence of a traffic violation has emerged in public documents or in video images. Memphis Police director Cerelyn "CJ" Davis has said she has seen no evidence justifying the stop or the officers' response.
She disbanded the Scorpion unit, which she created in November 2021, after Mr Nichols' death.
One other white officer who was involved in the initial traffic stop has been sacked. An additional officer who has not been identified has been suspended.
The officers leave court (Sky News)Three Memphis Fire Department employees who were present at the site of the arrest have also been sacked. Two Shelby County sheriff's deputies who were also there have been suspended without pay for violations including failing to keep their body cameras on.
Mr 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.
Some of the relatives and lawyers have praised Ms Davis and the department for the swiftness of their response and said it should be the standard for other investigations into police brutality.
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