AP Archive | Associated Press reporter explains split verdict in case against three former Memphis police officer @APArchive | Uploaded October 2024 | Updated October 2024, 1 week ago.
(4 Oct 2024)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Memphis, Tennessee - 3 October 2024
1. Wide of former Memphis police officer Tadarrius Bean walking into federal courthouse before the jury began to deliberate
2. Wide of former Memphis police officer Justin Smith walking into federal courthouse before the jury began to deliberate
++SOUNDBITE PARTIALLY COVERED++
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Adrian Sainz, The Associated Press:
"Three former Memphis officers who went on trial in the fatal beating of Tyre Nichols were convicted of one of four charges leveled against them, which is witness tampering, obstruction of justice."
4. Wide of former Memphis police officer Demetrius Haley walking into federal courthouse before the jury began to deliberate
++SOUNDBITE PARTIALLY COVERED++
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Adrian Sainz, The Associated Press:
"One officer, Demetrius Haley, was convicted of using excessive force, causing bodily injury to Tyre Nichols. And he was also convicted of being deliberately indifferent to his condition after the beating, also for bodily injury."
6. Wide of Tyre Nichols' mother RowVaughn Wells and Rodney Wells, his stepfather, chanting "We love you Tyre" in a prayer circle before the jury began to deliberate
++SOUNDBITE COVERED++
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Adrian Sainz, The Associated Press:
"Attorney Ben Crump sat next to RowVaughn Wells and Rodney Wells, Nichols' mother and stepfather. There were many marshals in the room, and the room was eerily dead silent as the verdict was being read."
8. Tight on a sign saying "Justice Now" held by a supporter of Nichols' family outside of the courthouse before deliberations began
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Adrian Sainz, The Associated Press:
"After the verdict, the family, along with attorney Ben Crump, friends and activists, gathered quietly in a huddle outside the courtroom, talking to each other and hugging each other. Rodney Wells, Nichols' stepfather, told me very briefly that, 'A win is a win, baby. They're all going to jail.'"
10. Tight on a T-shirt with Tyre Nichols' face
STORYLINE:
Three former Memphis police officers were convicted Thursday in the 2023 fatal beating of Tyre Nichols, but were acquitted of the harshest charges they faced for a death that sparked national protests and calls for broad changes in policing.
Jurors deliberated for about six hours before coming back with the mixed verdict for Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley and Justin Smith.
Associated Press journalist Adrian Sainz was in court for the nearly monthlong trial and was in the courtroom when the verdict was read.
All were convicted of witness tampering related to the cover-up of the beating, but Bean and Smith were acquitted of civil rights charges. Haley was acquitted of violating Nichols’ civil rights causing death, but convicted of the lesser charge of violating his civil rights causing bodily injury. He was also convicted of a conspiracy to witness tamper charge that the others were acquitted of.
"Before the verdict was read, attorney Ben Crump sat next to RowVaughn Wells and Rodney Wells, Nichols' mother and stepfather," said Sainz. "There were many marshals in the room, and the room was eerily dead silent as the verdict was being read. No one made any serious reactions. I did see RowVaughn Wells bow her head for a moment, but the decorum in the room was very somber, very silent and very serious."
The officers were immediately taken into custody after the verdict. Although the verdict was mixed, the family of Tyre Nichols told the AP that the officers would still receive a federal sentence.
AP video by Kristin M. Hall
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(4 Oct 2024)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Memphis, Tennessee - 3 October 2024
1. Wide of former Memphis police officer Tadarrius Bean walking into federal courthouse before the jury began to deliberate
2. Wide of former Memphis police officer Justin Smith walking into federal courthouse before the jury began to deliberate
++SOUNDBITE PARTIALLY COVERED++
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Adrian Sainz, The Associated Press:
"Three former Memphis officers who went on trial in the fatal beating of Tyre Nichols were convicted of one of four charges leveled against them, which is witness tampering, obstruction of justice."
4. Wide of former Memphis police officer Demetrius Haley walking into federal courthouse before the jury began to deliberate
++SOUNDBITE PARTIALLY COVERED++
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Adrian Sainz, The Associated Press:
"One officer, Demetrius Haley, was convicted of using excessive force, causing bodily injury to Tyre Nichols. And he was also convicted of being deliberately indifferent to his condition after the beating, also for bodily injury."
6. Wide of Tyre Nichols' mother RowVaughn Wells and Rodney Wells, his stepfather, chanting "We love you Tyre" in a prayer circle before the jury began to deliberate
++SOUNDBITE COVERED++
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Adrian Sainz, The Associated Press:
"Attorney Ben Crump sat next to RowVaughn Wells and Rodney Wells, Nichols' mother and stepfather. There were many marshals in the room, and the room was eerily dead silent as the verdict was being read."
8. Tight on a sign saying "Justice Now" held by a supporter of Nichols' family outside of the courthouse before deliberations began
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Adrian Sainz, The Associated Press:
"After the verdict, the family, along with attorney Ben Crump, friends and activists, gathered quietly in a huddle outside the courtroom, talking to each other and hugging each other. Rodney Wells, Nichols' stepfather, told me very briefly that, 'A win is a win, baby. They're all going to jail.'"
10. Tight on a T-shirt with Tyre Nichols' face
STORYLINE:
Three former Memphis police officers were convicted Thursday in the 2023 fatal beating of Tyre Nichols, but were acquitted of the harshest charges they faced for a death that sparked national protests and calls for broad changes in policing.
Jurors deliberated for about six hours before coming back with the mixed verdict for Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley and Justin Smith.
Associated Press journalist Adrian Sainz was in court for the nearly monthlong trial and was in the courtroom when the verdict was read.
All were convicted of witness tampering related to the cover-up of the beating, but Bean and Smith were acquitted of civil rights charges. Haley was acquitted of violating Nichols’ civil rights causing death, but convicted of the lesser charge of violating his civil rights causing bodily injury. He was also convicted of a conspiracy to witness tamper charge that the others were acquitted of.
"Before the verdict was read, attorney Ben Crump sat next to RowVaughn Wells and Rodney Wells, Nichols' mother and stepfather," said Sainz. "There were many marshals in the room, and the room was eerily dead silent as the verdict was being read. No one made any serious reactions. I did see RowVaughn Wells bow her head for a moment, but the decorum in the room was very somber, very silent and very serious."
The officers were immediately taken into custody after the verdict. Although the verdict was mixed, the family of Tyre Nichols told the AP that the officers would still receive a federal sentence.
AP video by Kristin M. Hall
Find out more about AP Archive: aparchive.com/HowWeWork
Twitter: twitter.com/AP_Archive
Facebook: facebook.com/APArchives
Instagram: instagram.com/APNews
You can license this story through AP Archive: aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/cc2bbd6795d041d2aee2c0ba69cca3a6
