Additional Coverage:
- Friend says an ex-officer on trial in fatal beating of Tyre Nichols did his job ‘by the book’ (newsbreak.com)
In the trial for the fatal beating of Tyre Nichols, defense attorneys for former Memphis police officer Tadarrius Bean presented their case.
Bryant McKinney, a former police academy classmate of Bean, testified to his kind and humble nature. He claimed Bean followed protocol and put others first.
However, prosecutor Kathryn Gilbert questioned McKinney’s opinion based on video evidence showing Bean holding a person’s hands while they were struck in the face. McKinney said he could not judge without full context.
Former officer Garrett O’Brien testified about defensive tactics, including palm strikes to the head. Use-of-force expert John Tisdale stated that Bean’s actions, such as hitting a person’s hands who resisted handcuffs, would not result in discipline in his opinion.
Bean’s attorneys argue he only hit Nichols’ hands, while prosecutors maintain he struck him in the head. Tisdale, who has a history of misconduct investigations, is an expert witness for the defense.
The officers are also charged with second-degree murder in state court, where plea changes are expected. A trial date has not been set.