Fired EMT who treated Tyre Nichols at arrest scene testifies in state murder trial against ex-officers
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) - The defense sped through several witnesses Thursday on Day 4 of the murder trial against three now-former Memphis police officers accused in the traffic stop beating death of Memphis civilian Tyre Nichols.
The defense has called nine witnesses so far. Six of those witnesses were called during Thursday’s session.
Action News 5 is streaming this trial live each day.
The state rested its case before lunch Wednesday after calling just five witnesses total.
Prosecutors told the judge that those five were all they needed, adding that they believe video evidence alone is enough for the jury to convict.
Former Memphis police officers Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley and Justin Smith are pleading not guilty to their seven-count indictment from the state, which includes second-degree murder.
Two other former officers were also charged in state court.
Desmond Mills Jr. testified Tuesday as part of his plea deal. He also pleaded guilty to his federal charges.
Emmitt Martin III’s state trial will be severed from the other officers.
On the night of January 7, 2023, investigators say that officers with the Memphis Police Department‘s now-defunct SCORPION Unit pulled Nichols over in Hickory Hill for alleged reckless driving.
Investigators say he ran from the initial traffic stop at Ross and East Raines Road until officers caught him at Ross and Castlegate Lane near his parents’ house.
All five now-former MPD officers are accused of fatally beating Nichols, who was unarmed, in their effort to detain him. Nichols was unresponsive by the time he was in cuffs and died at the hospital three days later.
Preston Hemphill continued his witness testimony for the defense Thursday morning.
Like the codefendants, Hemphill is a former MPD SCORPION Unit officer who was also fired as a result of the Tyre Nichols investigation; however, he was never criminally charged.
When he was first brought to the stand Wednesday, Hemphill testified that on the night of Jan. 7, 2023, he and former officers Haley and Martin witnessed a blue Nissan Sentra speeding southbound on Riverdale Road.
He said that the driver, later identified as Nichols, ignored Martin’s blue lights and ran a red light as he sped away, escalating the nature of the stop.
“Reckless driving, getting away from police, and just fleeing from police increases the risk of the traffic stop,” Hemphill said.
The three now-former officers pursued Nichols together.
Hemphill said the traffic stop escalated even more after Nichols did finally pull over at Ross and Raines, because the 29-year-old did not comply with the officer’s commands when he was pulled from his car.
“He refused to put his hands behind his back and managed to turn around and be facing towards Haley,” Hemphill testified.
Attorneys for all former officers on trial have attested that this was the most difficult arrest any of them made in their policing careers, largely citing Nichols’ “superhuman strength” despite his small stature.
The evidence of the case shows that Nichols never injured or attempted to injure the officers whom he resisted. The defense has not tried to argue otherwise.
Hemphill even went as far as to say Nichols was “politely resisting.”
Thursday morning, Hemphill spoke on the character of his former colleagues.
In one instance, Hemphill described Smith, who was the leader of SCORPION Unit Team 1, as “caring, laid-back... kind and gentle.”
He also spoke fondly of Bean’s character. He described him as soft-spoken and as having a good reputation.
After Hemphill finished his testimony late Thursday morning, the defense proceeded to call several more witnesses to the stand.
The first was another car burglary victim who says his gun and wallet were stolen from his car on Halloween 2022.
“I called [police] and said there’s glass all around my car. At that point, I go outside and my window had been busted out and my car has been ran through,” said Jordan Riley.
Those cards, plus stolen cards from a woman who testified Wednesday, were reportedly found in Nichols’ car after he was arrested.
However, prosecutors pointed out that no one can definitely say if it was Nichols who stole those belongings.
The jury also heard from three character witnesses who spoke fondly of former officer Bean’s reputation and personality Thursday.
Those included the MPD officer who trained him at the academy, a former classmate from the University of Mississippi, and a corporate security officer who remembers training with Bean.
“[Bean] always just had a mild-mannered mentality and always kept a level head to try to just help others,” said corporate security officer Bryant McKinney.
On Wednesday, the medical examiner and forensic pathologist who performed Nichols’ autopsy testified on behalf of the prosecution.
On Thursday, the defense called in their own forensic pathologist, whom they asked to review the same files for their case.
She reaffirmed the findings from Dr. Marco Ross with the West Tennessee Regional Forensic Center, which was that Nichols’ cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head from the blows the former officers allegedly delivered.
Nichols’ manner of death was ruled a homicide.
One of the now-former Memphis Fire Department EMTs who treated Nichols at the scene of his arrest was the last to take the stand Thursday and shared his testimony of the events that happened that night.
Robert Long was also fired as a result of this investigation. The evidence of the case suggests he was the last one to speak to Nichols before he slipped from consciousness.
Long told the jury that Nichols was able to tell him his name, date of birth, and that he had been drinking before he became unresponsive.
It was previously said during this trial that Nichols’ blood alcohol level was 49 mg/dL, which is below the legal limit.
Long also asked Nichols if he had taken any drugs, but Nichols neither confirmed nor denied any usage. Long said he called for paramedics because he knew Nichols needed further help, noting that his pupils were “pinpoint.”
Testimonies are expected to pick up Friday morning. It’s unknown who will be the first to take the stand.
This trial could last two weeks.
Follow the trial live by visiting Action News 5’s website, Facebook page or YouTube channel.
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