MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Three former Memphis police officers were convicted Thursday in the 2023 fatal beating of Tyre Nichols , but were acquitted of the harshest charges they faced for a death that sparked national protests and calls for broad changes in policing. Jurors deliberated for about six hours before coming back with the mixed verdict for Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley and Justin Smith.
All of them were convicted of witness tampering related to the cover-up of the beating, but Bean and Smith were acquitted of civil rights charges. Haley was acquitted of violating Nichols’ civil rights causing death, but convicted of the lesser charge of violating his civil rights causing bodily injury. The court remained silent as the verdicts were read.
The judge ordered the officers to be taken into custody. He planned to hold a hearing Monday to hear from the defense lawyers about releasing them pending sentencing. The witness tampering charges carry possible sentences of up to 20 years in prison.
The civil rights charge against Nichols carries up to 10 years in prison. They had faced up to life in prison if convicted on the harshest charges. Rodney Wells, Nichols’ stepfather, told The Associated Press outside the courtroom: “A win is a win.
They’re all going to jail.” Five officers were charged in Nichols’ death , but two pleaded guilty and testified against members of their old crime suppression unit, eliminating any defense strategy that would have relied on them.