### Former Memphis Officers Found Guilty of Witness Tampering in Tyre Nichols Case

In a significant legal development, three former Memphis police officers were convicted Thursday on federal witness tampering charges linked to the fatal beating of Tyre Nichols in 2023. Demetrius Haley, Justin Smith, and Taddarius Bean had faced accusations of depriving Nichols of his rights through excessive force, obstructing justice through witness tampering, among other crimes. Despite initially pleading not guilty, all three were found guilty of various charges, according to NBC News affiliate WMC.

Demetrius Haley was convicted on one count of conspiracy to witness tamper and one count of obstruction of justice for witness tampering. Bean and Smith were each found guilty of obstruction of justice for witness tampering. They were, however, acquitted of the more severe charges involving deprivation of rights under the color of the law for excessive force and failure to intervene or deliberate indifference. Haley faced lesser charges involving bodily injury.

Following the verdict, the judge ordered the immediate custody of the officers, pending a hearing set for Monday to consider their release until sentencing. Each count of witness tampering imposes the possibility of up to 20 years in prison, and the civil rights violation charge against Haley could result in a 10-year sentence. If convicted on the harshest charges, the former officers would have faced potential life sentences.

RowVaughn Wells, Nichols' mother, expressed a mix of shock and relief outside the courthouse, stating, "All of them have been convicted of something, and they're all going to jail. That's how I feel. This has been a long journey for the family."

The legal proceedings also involved two other former officers, Emmitt Martin III and Desmond Mills Jr., who both pleaded guilty to the same charges. Mills accepted a plea deal, with prosecutors recommending a sentence of up to 15 years in prison. Martin's testimony during the trial revealed the officers' mutual understanding not to disclose the beating, under a plea agreement that suggests a sentence of up to 40 years.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Rogers emphasized the brutality of the assault during the trial, pointing out that the officers stood by Nichols' dying body, laughing and agreeing to cover up the incident. Despite defense claims that the officers were merely attempting to subdue a non-compliant suspect, Nichols' traffic stop for alleged reckless driving had no supporting evidence, according to Memphis' police chief.

Mills, who testified against his former colleagues and tearfully admitted striking Nichols with his baton, expressed remorse, saying, "I made his child fatherless. I'm sorry." Nichols, who succumbed to his injuries three days after the beating, leaves behind a young son.

The officers, all of whom were part of a crime suppression team called the Scorpion Unit, were terminated from their positions following the incident, and their unit was subsequently disbanded. Federal prosecutor Kathryn Gilbert argued that the actions of the officers were a coordinated effort that resulted in Nichols' death.

Haley's attorney, Stephen Leffler, and Bean's lawyer, John Keith Perry, disputed the prosecution's narrative, casting doubt on the culpability of their clients. The former officers also face charges of second-degree murder in state court, with Mills and Martin expected to alter their pleas to guilty.