Note: This story has been edited to accurately reflect the verdicts against Bean, Smith and Haley, who were each found not guilty on civil rights violation charges. WREG regrets the error.
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The state trial date has been set for three former Memphis Police officers accused in the beating death of Tyre Nichols back in 2021.
Their trial will take place on April 28, 2025. However, attorneys of Tadarrius Bean and Justin Smith are requesting separate trials from Emmitt Martin and filed a motion to sever.
Even though former MPD officer Demetrius Haley was not in court today with the other three, District Attorney Steve Mulroy confirmed that his attorney also plans to file a motion for severance.
A hearing was set for November 25 to discuss motions.
Five former officers are accused of beating Tyre Nichols during a traffic stop on January 7, 2023, leading to his death three days later.
On October 3, Bean, Smith, and Haley were found guilty on some charges after the four-week-long federal trial, though they were also found not guilty on other charges including violation of civil rights. Smith and Bean were found guilty only on an obstruction charge. A complete list of the verdicts is here.
Desmond Mills and Martin had already taken deals and pleaded guilty to federal charges prior to the trial.
Mills also agreed to plead guilty to state charges.
“All of them have been convicted of something, and they are all going to jail,” said Tyre Nichols’ mother RowVaughn Wells, outside the federal courthouse in Memphis. “This has been a long journey for our family.”
They are each now facing state criminal charges of Second-Degree Murder.
