Former Memphis police officer wants to change his plea in Tyre Nichols case

A second former Memphis police officer is expected to change his plea to not guilty on Friday in connection with the alleged civil rights violations that ended with the beating death of Tyre Nichols, court documents show.

According to the documents, a hearing to modify former police officer Emmitt Martin's guilty plea has been scheduled for 2 p.m. CT in U.S. District Judge Mark Norris' courtroom.

In November, another former Memphis police officer, Desmond Mills Jr., changed his plea to federal charges of excessive use of force and obstruction of justice. The defendant agreed to cooperate with prosecutors and faced up to 15 years in prison.

Nichols, 29, died in the hospital several days after a traffic stop on January 7, 2023. Cameras showed several Memphis police officers kicking, punching and beating him with batons.

The other officers – Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley and Justin Smith – have pleaded not guilty to the federal and state charges related to Nichols. who was black. All five officers, who were also black, were placed on leave before ultimately being fired.

His beating death was one of several cases in the early 2020s that shed new light on nighttime police violence, particularly in the black community.

Nichols is often mentioned in the same breath as George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Daunte Wright.

Officers reportedly stopped Nichols for reckless driving, but Memphis police later said there was no evidence to warrant a stop.

Nichols fled on foot and when officers caught up with him, the young man was just a block away from where his mother and stepfather lived.

As a video shows, he was kicked in the head and beaten with batons while calling for his mother.

This is a developing story, please check back later for updates.