Trial Date Set for Officers in Nichols Case

Three former Memphis police officers, Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, and Justin Smith, are set to stand trial on April 28, 2025, for the second-degree murder of Tyre Nichols, who died three days after being beaten by the officers in January 2023. Nichols' death, which was captured on video, led to the disbandment of the Memphis Police Department's SCORPION Unit. The officers have been found guilty of federal charges, including witness tampering and civil rights violations, and are scheduled for sentencing in January 2025. A hearing on November 25 will address motions to try the officers separately. Two other officers involved, Emmitt Martin and Desmond Mills Jr., have pled guilty to federal charges and are expected to change their pleas in state court, potentially avoiding a trial for second-degree murder.