Expert testifies that repeated strikes to Tyre Nichols' head were unnecessary and excessive

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – A constabulary grooming adept testifying Saturday arsenic a defence witnesser successful the proceedings of 3 erstwhile Memphis officers charged successful the fatal beating of Tyre Nichols acknowledged that kicks and punches to Nichols' caput were unnecessary and excessive.

Don Cameron took the basal connected the sixth time of the proceedings of Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley and Justin Smith, who person pleaded not blameworthy to authorities charges including second-degree murder. They already look the imaginable of years successful situation aft they were convicted of national charges past year.

Nichols, a 29-year-old Black man, fled a January 2023 postulation halt aft helium was yanked retired of his car, pepper-sprayed and deed with a Taser. Five officers who are besides Black caught up with him and punched, kicked and deed Nichols with a constabulary baton, struggling to handcuff him arsenic helium called retired for his parent adjacent his home.

Footage of the beating captured by a constabulary rod camera besides showed the officers milling about, talking and laughing arsenic Nichols struggled. His decease led to nationwide protests, calls for constabulary reforms successful the U.S., and aggravated scrutiny of constabulary successful Memphis, a majority-Black city.

The officers are charged with second-degree murder, aggravated assault, aggravated kidnapping, authoritative misconduct and authoritative oppression. Prosecutors person argued that the officers utilized excessive unit successful trying to handcuff Nichols. The officers besides had a work to intervene and halt the beating and archer aesculapian unit that Nichols had been struck successful the head, but they failed to bash so, prosecutors say.

Former Memphis officers Desmond Mills Jr. and Emmitt Martin besides were charged successful the case. They person agreed to plead blameworthy to the authorities charges and are not lasting trial. They besides pleaded blameworthy successful national court, wherever sentencing for each 5 officers is pending.

Defense attorneys person sought to spot distant astatine accusations that the officers utilized unnecessary unit to subdue Nichols. They person argued that Nichols was actively resisting apprehension by moving distant and failing to springiness his hands to officers truthful that helium could beryllium handcuffed. They besides person argued that their usage of unit complied with constabulary section policies.

Cameron was called to the basal by the defence lawyer for Haley, who was astatine the postulation halt and arrived astatine the determination of the beating aft Martin kicked and punched Nichols successful the caput arsenic Nichols was being held by Smith and Bean.

Cameron said Nichols had not yet been handcuffed and Haley utilized due unit successful kicking Nichols erstwhile successful the arm. The seasoned constabulary trainer said Haley kicked Nichols successful bid to facilitate the handcuffing of Nichols by the different officers.

However, nether cross-examination by authoritative Paul Hagerman, Cameron acknowledged that the punches and kicks by Martin to Nichols' caput were unnecessary, excessive and an illustration of deadly force. Officers who saw those caput blows had a work to intervene and halt the beating astatine that point, Cameron said.

The authoritative besides asked Cameron astir Haley's remark to “beat that man” arsenic helium got retired of his car and approached Nichols. Cameron said helium believed Haley made the remark successful bid to get Nichols to comply with being handcuffed aft Nichols repeatedly ignored expletive-laced orders to bash so.

Mills, who deed Nichols 3 times with a constabulary baton, testified Tuesday that helium regrets his nonaccomplishment to halt the beating, which led to Nichols’ decease 3 days aboriginal from blunt-force trauma. Dr. Marco Ross, the aesculapian examiner who performed the autopsy, testified Wednesday that Nichols suffered tears and bleeding successful the brain.

The proceedings comes months aft the U.S. Justice Department said successful December that a 17-month investigation recovered that the Memphis Police Department uses excessive unit and discriminates against Black people.

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