Three former Memphis police officers were acquitted of all state charges — including second-degree murder — in the 2023 beating death of Tyre Nichols, according to The New York Times.
The acquittal follows an earlier federal trial in which they were found guilty of lesser offenses, including witness tampering.
Nichols, a 29-year-old Black man, was violently beaten after a traffic stop and died three days later. Video footage of the assault sparked national outrage.
Prosecutors argued that the officers used excessive force, while defense lawyers claimed they were reacting to a fleeing suspect.
Nichols’ family and civil rights advocates condemned the verdict as a miscarriage of justice, reigniting concerns about police accountability and systemic bias.
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