A second ex-Memphis police officer is expected to plead guilty in the tragic case of Tyre Nichols, a 29-year-old Black man who died after being brutally beaten by officers during a traffic stop in January 2023. According to federal court documents, former Officer Emmitt Martin III, who had previously pleaded not guilty, is set to change his plea at a hearing scheduled for Friday.
This move follows the footsteps of Desmond Mills Jr., another ex-Memphis officer involved in the incident, who also agreed to plead guilty last November as part of a global settlement addressing both state and federal charges. Mills Jr. faced four federal charges but pleaded guilty to two, while also agreeing to plead guilty in state court on related charges.
Martin and Mills were among five officers charged in connection with Nichols’ death, which has sparked ongoing protests and calls for justice. The other three officers—Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, and Justin Smith—are still awaiting trial.
Tyre Nichols’ death, ruled a homicide, has brought renewed focus on police violence against people of color in America. Nichols suffered blunt force trauma to the head and severe injuries all over his body, leading to his death just three days after the violent encounter. The involved officers were fired following an internal investigation and now face multiple charges, including murder, assault, and kidnapping, both at the state and federal levels. The federal indictment also includes civil rights and obstruction offenses, with some charges carrying a potential life sentence.
The Shelby County District Attorney’s Office confirmed their ongoing collaboration with federal authorities as the legal proceedings continue.
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