Ex-Memphis Officers Admit Roles in Tyre Nichols Case

During the federal trial of three former Memphis police officers charged in the beating death of Tyre Nichols, FBI Agent Anthony Householder testified that officers Justin Smith and Tadarrius Bean accepted responsibility for their actions. Smith admitted to striking Nichols and expressed remorse, stating he should have intervened when his colleague, Emmitt Martin III, was kicking Nichols. Both Smith and Bean’s testimonies came during interviews that were part of an arrangement for potential immunity, unless they lied or violated terms. Meanwhile, two other officers, Martin and Desmond Mills Jr., have already pleaded guilty to charges related to the incident, which involved excessive force and a failure to provide medical aid. Nichols, who was Black, died three days after the encounter, which included the use of a Taser and pepper spray during a traffic stop. The trial continues as the officers plead not guilty to the charges against them.