MEMPHIS, Tenn. – A new trial is on the horizon for three former Memphis Police officers previously convicted on federal charges related to Tyre Nichols’ death. But their attorneys are seeking to have their cases dropped altogether.
A jury convicted former Memphis officers Tadarrius Bean and Justin Smith of obstruction of justice related to witness tampering. Bean and Smith will only be tried on those charges at the new trial, ordered by Judge Sheryl Lipman, who took over the case following the recusal of Judge Mark Norris. Demetrius Haley will stand trial for using unreasonable force resulting in injury and obstruction of justice, the charges the federal jury convicted him of in the previous trial.
The former officers were found not guilty on other federal charges, so they won’t be retried on those charges due to double jeopardy…