### Emotional Testimony from Former Officer in Tyre Nichols Death Trial

Desmond Mills Jr., a former Memphis police officer, broke down in tears as he testified in the federal trial of three ex-officers implicated in the beating death of Tyre Nichols in January 2023. Mills expressed deep remorse, admitting his role in making Nichols' child fatherless. “It hurts to watch. It hurts inside so much," he lamented.

Mills recounted the harrowing encounter captured on body camera footage, in which he admitted to using his baton to strike Nichols three times. Overcome with emotion, he conceded, "I didn't give him a chance to give me his hands," revealing his anger was compounded by accidentally pepper-spraying himself.

The trial sees Justin Smith, Demetrius Haley, and Tadarrius Bean facing charges including excessive use of force, unlawful assault, failure to intervene, and failure to render medical aid—charges which could result in life sentences if convicted. Mills and another ex-officer, Emmitt Martin III, have already pleaded guilty to certain federal charges related to the incident.

During his testimony, Mills acknowledged that Nichols posed no threat during the encounter, a fact painfully clear from the video evidence. He cited internal issues within the Memphis Police Department's now-disbanded SCORPION unit, describing an environment of inexperience and aggressive tactics.

In his account, Mills suggested he was following the lead of his colleagues, arriving on the scene where Smith and Bean were already engaged in beating Nichols. Mills was recorded on body camera threatening to pepper-spray Nichols, a decision he rationalized as an attempt to subdue Nichols quickly.

Mills described the hostile work environment under Smith and Haley, who often filled response to resistance forms due to their aggressive approaches. He recounted a disturbing incident where Haley allegedly kicked a handcuffed suspect and failed to report it.

Former officer Martin provided insight into his state of mind, describing feelings of anger and a desire for revenge after returning to work following a vehicular accident. This emotional turmoil, combined with the high-intensity atmosphere of the SCORPION unit, contributed to the fatal encounter with Nichols.

Footage from the tragic event shows Nichols fleeing after an initial traffic stop, only to be tracked down, tased, and beaten by the officers. Nichols succumbed to his injuries three days later on January 10, 2023. The incident, deemed to involve excessive force and failure of the officers to render timely medical aid, sparked widespread protests and calls for police reform.

Memphis Police Chief Cerelyn Davis later stated that no evidence was found to support the claim that Nichols had been driving recklessly, a revelation that further fueled public outcry. Nichols' death was officially ruled as resulting from brain injuries due to blunt force trauma.