Three police officers convicted of witness tampering in Tire Nichols killing

Three former Memphis Police officers were convicted Thursday of witness tampering for their role in the 2023 killing of Tire Nichols. However, the officers were cleared of the charges they faced in connection with Nichols' death.

After deliberating for six hours, the jury returned with a mixed verdict for the three officers – Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley and Justin Smith – who were convicted of witness tampering to cover up the fatal beating. Bean and Smith were acquitted of the civil rights charge, while Haley was convicted of the lesser charge of violating Nichols' civil rights resulting in bodily harm.

More from Rolling Stone

“The guilty verdicts handed down today send a strong message that law enforcement officers who commit crimes will be held accountable under the law,” said a statement following the sentencing from Nichols family attorneys Ben Crump and Antonio Romanucci. “Tyre’s family is relieved that all three officers have been found guilty and taken into custody in the deaths of their loved ones.”

“Tyre should be alive today, and while nothing can bring him back, today's guilty verdicts bring with them a measure of responsibility for his senseless and tragic death,” the lawyers continued.

The three officers had originally pleaded not guilty to charges of obstruction of justice and depriving Nichols of his civil rights.

According to CNN, the judge will hear from defense attorneys on Monday. The three officers face sentences of up to 20 years in prison for witness tampering, while Haley's civil rights charge is punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

“All of them have been convicted of something and all of them are going to prison. That's how I feel,” Nichols' mother, RowVaughn Wells, told reporters after the court hearing, according to NBC News. “It’s been a long journey for the family.”

The new sentencing comes about a year after Desmond Mills Jr., one of the five officers charged in Nichols' death, pleaded guilty to federal charges and the government asked the court to sentence him to a maximum of 15 years in prison.

Last year, a federal grand jury charged Mills and the other officers with using excessive force that resulted in the death of Nichols, aiding each other in that excessive force, failing to stop each other when the brutality became too great, and each other to have conspired to cover everything up. Mills pleaded guilty to using excessive force and failure to intervene, conspiracy to withhold information from his supervisor, and civil rights and conspiracy charges.

Footage of the police attack in early 2023 showed officers giving Nichols 71 commands, many of which he could not carry out, such as showing them his hands as they were handcuffed and telling him to get on the ground, than he already was. All five police officers, who were fired several weeks after the incident, initially pleaded not guilty to Nichols' death.

The best of Rolling Stone

Sign up for the RollingStone newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.