The five former Memphis police officers who pleaded not guilty to the second-degree murder of Tyre Nichols did not have “the courage to look me in my face,” his mother has said.
Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Desmond Mills Jr, Emmitt Martin III and Justin Smith pleaded not guilty to charges of second-degree murder, aggravated assault, aggravated kidnapping, official misconduct and official oppression.
They were fired after an internal police investigation into the arrest of Mr Nichols in January.
Speaking outside the court Mr Nichols’ mother, RowVaughn Wells, said she felt “very numb” and was waiting for “somebody to wake her up” from the nightmare.
“I know my son is gone. I know I’ll never see him again. But we have to start this process of justice right now,” she said.
Clockwise from top left: Demetrius Haley, Desmond Mills Jr, Emmitt Martin III, Tadarrius Bean and Justin Smith
Speaking of the five officers, she said: “They didn’t have the courage to look me in my face.”
The officers are free on bond and are due back in court on 1 May.
