A federal judge in Tennessee has ordered a new trial for three former Memphis police officers who were convicted on charges related to the fatal beating of Tyre Nichols in 2023.
Judge Sheryl Lipman cited concerns of bias after the judge presiding over the original federal trial allegedly suggested one of the defendants was a gang member.
Nichols, 29, was pepper sprayed, kicked and punched during a traffic stop for alleged reckless driving in 2023. He died three days later.
Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley and Justin Smith, Jr were all convicted of witness tampering, but were acquitted of the most serious charge - that they had violated Mr. Nichols's civil rights by causing his death.
The fatal beating of Nichols sparked outrage across the United States, and led to nationwide protests over police brutality.
