A federal judge granted a new trial for Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley and Justin Smith after defense lawyers argued the trial judge was biased by a belief that at least one officer was in a gang. The three were convicted in October 2024 of obstruction of justice through witness tampering. The ruling is a setback for prosecutors in a case that drew national attention when video showed officers violently kicking and punching Tyre Nichols during a traffic stop. The officers had been acquitted of state murder charges in May. Judge Mark S. Norris recused himself days before sentencing and U.S. District Judge Sheryl H. Lipman took over the matter.
The ruling marks the latest setback for prosecutors in a case that shocked the country when videos were released showing officers violently kicking and punching Nichols during a traffic stop. The officers who have been granted a new trial in the federal case were acquitted of state murder charges in May. And last year federal prosecutors were unable to secure convictions on the most severe counts against Bean and Smith. Two other officers charged, Emmitt Martin and Desmond Mills Jr., pleaded guilty before the federal trial.
Lipman took over the case in June after U.S. District Judge Mark S. Norris, who presided over the case and the trial, recused himself days before the sentencings for the five officers. In a statement shared by his judicial office Thursday, Norris said, "Because of the code of judicial conduct, I cannot make a statement on this matter." New trial based on judge's comments In her order, Lipman cited a notice filed by the U.S. Attorney's Office
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