Second former Memphis police officer pleads guilty in death of Tyre Nichols

Federal prosecutors recommended a 40-year prison sentence for a former Memphis police officer who pleaded guilty to violating federal civil rights in connection with the fatal beating of Tyre Nichols in 2023.

Emmitt Martin is the second former police officer to plead guilty to the killing that sparked outrage and renewed calls for police reform. Three former police officers still face trial in federal court next month, and two of their former colleagues could testify against them.

Martin entered his change of guilty plea on Friday before U.S. District Judge Mark Norris in Memphis as part of an agreement with prosecutors. He pleaded guilty to using excessive force and witness tampering. The judge had set a deadline of Monday for any plea agreements in the case to be reached.

Nichols' mother, RowVaughn Wells, was in the courtroom. She nodded and smiled as the judge accepted Martin's changed plea.

In a press conference with civil rights attorney Ben Crump after the hearing, Wells said the hearing was “very emotional” and “bittersweet.” She said the latest confession was a step in the right direction, but she will not be satisfied until all officers are brought to justice.

“Tyre just came home. He was just minding his own business,” she said.

Nichols died in a hospital on January 10, 2023, three days after he was kicked, punched and beaten with a police baton following a traffic stop. Officers said they stopped Nichols for driving recklessly, but Police Chief Cerelyn “CJ” Davis said no evidence was found to support that allegation.

A police video released on Jan. 27 shows officers beating Nichols as he screams for his mother about a block from their shared home. The video also shows officers loitering and talking with each other as Nichols struggles with his injuries.

An autopsy report showed that Nichols died from blows to the head and that the cause of death was homicide. The report described brain injuries, cuts and bruises to the head and other parts of the body.

“I'll never get my son back. I'll never hear his voice again,” Wells told reporters Friday. “They murdered my son for nothing. And until we get justice for everyone, I'm not going to be satisfied.”

In November, former Memphis police officer Desmond Mills Jr. reached a similar plea deal with federal prosecutors and pleaded guilty. Prosecutors recommended a 15-year prison sentence for Mills.

Both Mills and Martin could be called as witnesses against the final three – Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley and Justin Smith – who remain charged with federal civil rights violations and have pleaded not guilty.

All five former police officers responsible for Nichols' death have been separately charged in state court with first-degree murder, but their trials have been postponed until the federal case is resolved.

Nichols was a 29-year-old father who grew up in Sacramento. He worked with his stepfather at FedEx and enjoyed skateboarding and photography in his free time. Nichols was black.

The five former police officers charged are also black. They were fired after Nichols' murder for violating Memphis Police Department policies.

Martin, the second officer who came into contact with Nichols during the Jan. 7 traffic stop, helped Haley force Nichols out of his vehicle, according to documents filed in the lawsuit seeking to permanently disqualify Martin from working as a Tennessee police officer.

Nichols fled from Martin and his two partners after they threatened and pepper-sprayed him, but was arrested within six minutes. While other officers attempted to handcuff Nichols, who was on the ground, Martin kicked him in the torso and punched him in the face while two other officers held down his arms, documents show.

Martin's defense attorney Stephen Ross Johnson said after the hearing that Martin had accepted responsibility for his actions.

“Emmitt Martin was driven by anger when he admitted on January 7, 2023 that he had violated Mr. Nichols' civil rights and used excessive force. When he later tried to cover it up, he was driven by fear – fear of the consequences of his actions,” Johnson said.

The charges are unrelated to the U.S. Department of Justice's “patterns and practices” investigation into the way police officers in Memphis use force and make arrests, and whether police in the majority-black city engage in racially discriminatory policing.

The Justice Department has also announced a separate review of use of force, de-escalation strategies and special units within the Memphis Police Department.

In addition, Nichols' mother has filed a $550 million lawsuit against the city and its police chief.

Mattise writes for the Associated Press.