MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The five former Memphis Police officers charged in the death of Tyre Nichols appeared in court for the second time since being charged.
Former officers Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Emmitt Martin, Justin Smith, and Desmond Mills, face multiple charges, including second degree murder in Nichols’ death. All five officers pleaded not guilty during their first court appearance on Feb. 17.
Former officer Preston Hemphill and another officer, Lieutenant DeWayne Smith, were not charged in Nichols’ death; however, they still face decertification.
Attorneys for two of the former Memphis Police officers filed motions asking to separate their trials from the other officers. Attorney Martin Zummach, who represents Justin Smith, said their motion should be granted if it will give them a fair trial.
The judge will set a hearing on those motions at a later date, while the discovery, or evidence, in the case is set to be revealed to all parties in the trial by August 18.
Tyre Nichols' brother, Jamel Dupree, and his sister, Keyana Dixon, were both in court for the proceedings, and spoke to reporters after the court appearance.
On Jan. 7, 2023, Nichols, 29, was left unconscious, brutally beaten and unrecognizable after what was supposed to be a regular traffic stop, where he encountered several MPD officers serving on a specialized tactics unit called SCORPION Unit. He died three days later.
Nichols's encounter with the MPD officers serving on the SCORPION specialized tactics unit has law enforcement, Nichols' family, and protestors calling for full police reform.