Jury from outside of Memphis will hear the case of 3 former officers charged in Tyre Nichols' death

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) -- A judge has ruled that a jury from outside Memphis will hear the trial of three former police officers charged with second-degree murder in the beating death of Tyre Nichols during a traffic stop in January 2023. The officers—Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, and Justin Smith—have pleaded not guilty. The exact location of the jury selection remains unspecified, but the trial is set to begin on April 28.

Nichols, 29, was subjected to multiple forms of force by the former Memphis officers, who used pepper spray and a Taser before pursuing and violently beating him just steps from his home. Video footage of the incident showed Nichols crying out for his mother while the officers displayed apparent indifference, engaging in casual conversation and laughter as he struggled. Nichols succumbed to his injuries three days later.

In addition to the three officers on trial, two others—Emmitt Martin and Desmond Mills Jr.—also face second-degree murder charges but are not involved in this particular trial. They are expected to change their not guilty pleas in the state court. All five officers were terminated from their positions and subsequently indicted on federal civil rights and witness tampering charges.

The aftermath of Nichols' death was a catalyst for national protests and heightened demands for police reforms across the United States. It has brought intense scrutiny on the Memphis Police Department, which was already under investigation by the U.S. Justice Department for excessive force and discrimination against Black individuals. The department is predominantly Black, and the police chief, Cerelyn "CJ" Davis, is also a member of the Black community.

The five officers were part of a now-disbanded crime suppression unit known as the Scorpion Unit, which targeted criminal activity but has faced criticism for employing excessive force against unarmed citizens. While some officers have taken plea deals, the convictions and pending sentences underscore the judicial and societal implications of policing practices in America.