Posted on 02/17/2023 8:13:47 AM PST by ChicagoConservative27
Five former Memphis police officers pleaded not guilty Friday to second-degree murder and other charges in the violent arrest and death of Tyre Nichols.
Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Desmond Mills Jr., Emmitt Martin III, and Justin Smith made their first court appearances with their lawyers before a judge in Shelby County Criminal Court. The officers were fired after an internal police investigation into the Jan. 7 arrest of Nichols, who died in a hospital three days later.
The officers pleaded not guilty to charges of second-degree murder, aggravated assault, aggravated kidnapping, official misconduct, and official oppression. They are all out on bond. Their next hearing has been scheduled for May 1.
Addressing the courtroom, Judge James Jones Jr. asked for everyone’s “continued patience” and ”continued civility,” stressing that “this case can take some time.”
“We understand that there may be some high emotions in this case, but we ask that you continue to be patient with us,” Jones said. “Everyone involved wants this case to be concluded as quickly as possible. But it’s important for you all to understand that the state of Tennessee, as well as each one of these defendants, have an absolute right to a fair trial.”
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
> I thought they would plea out. I was wrong. <
It’s early. One of them will probably roll on the other four. So you might end up being right after all.
They won’t let them plead out. What sentence is less than life without parole…which is the minimum they are gonna get.
I don’t think they have pre-meditation of intent on these guys. Are there aggravating circumstances? Abuse under color of law?
They know black on black doesnt count.
“I thought they would plea out. I was wrong.”
Even though I am probably a minority of one, I sure would like to hear their side of the story. On the face of it, the evidence is overwhelming, it is possible we do not knew everything.
It stated 2nd degree.
Although that is intention, not planned intention.
Indeed.
And that includes “conservative” sides.
Is this victim really innocent? If so, he may be the first truly innocent black guy to die by police. I’ve heard in passing he had no record.
Of course, there is still the complication that all the police involved here are black.
The par of the story where you have to hold a man go e limp upright so you can punch him again?
“They know black on black doesn’t count”
It apparently doesn’t when it comes to rioting
If it had been white cops Memphis would be a smoking hole in the ground by now
“there is still the complication that all the police involved here are black”
Ah, but undoubtedly TRAINED by whites.....that’s crazy you say?......it’s already being put forward as reason this happened.
I don’t think intent can be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. That’s the problem with over-charging. “The Community” will see it as valuing black lives less than white lives. Convictions might be based more on fear of riots than on justice.
Black on white doesnt count either.
There is some reason they stopped Nichols. Near his home, worked at fedex where one cops ex girlfriend works.
Barf Alert: Blake Ballins attorney for former officer Desmond Mills:
“... ‘Let’s not forget that my client is a black man in a courtroom in America which is a country where black people are incarcerated at five times the rate of white people.
‘A country where black people are 7.5 times more likely to be wrongfully convicted of murder than white people.
‘Much has been said about the ways the system has failed Mr. Nichols. I will work tirelessly to make sure the system does not fail Mr. Mills and that a fair outcome is achieved,’ Mills’ attorney Blake Ballins said. ...”
all 5 mugshot photos at link
OK. One guy might put a severe beatdown on him. Five to seven others guys aren’t flushing their careers or lives over it.
What did Nichols toxicology reports state>?
There is evidence that the victim was dating one of the cop’s baby mamas. So if the beatdown was intentional and it can be proved, the charges will be upgraded to murder one. One of the cops sent pictures from the scene to two women.
https://www.foxnews.com/us/tyre-nichols-death-former-memphis-cop-took-shared-photos-bloodied-victim
Hoping the prosecution overcharges.
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