Tyre Nichols' mum shares nightmare as cops deny killing unarmed son
Tyre Nichols' mum slammed the officers charged with her son's murder for not even being able to look her in the face after they pleaded not guilty today.
RowVaughn Wells spoke outside court where the five officers charged with his murder pleaded not guilty.
They made their first court appearance in Memphis on Friday for the alleged murder of Tyre Nichols after a video showed him being beaten to death and sparked anger worldwide.
His mother, RowVaughn Wells, and stepfather, Rodney Wells, stood alongside their lawyer, civil rights attorney Ben Crump.
Ms Wells said: "This is the beginning of the process. We're going to be here at every court date. So that they can know we're here.
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Tyre Nichols' mum stands alongside civil rights lawyer Ben Crump outside courtHer voice breaking she continued: "It's funny because I feel numb right now, very numb. I'm waiting for this nightmare I'm going through. I'm waiting for someone to wake me up.
"But its not going to happen. I know my son is gone and I'm never going to see him again."
She also had a message to the officers: "I want each and everyone of those police officers to look me in the face. They haven't done that yet.
RowVaughn Wells' voice cracked as she gave a statement"They couldn't even do that today. They didnt' even have the courage to look me in the face."
Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Desmond Mills Jr., Emmitt Martin III and Justin Smith made their first court appearances with their lawyers before a judge in Shelby County Criminal Court.
The officers were fired after an internal police investigation into the Januarty 7 arrest of Nichols, who died in a hospital three days later.
Tyre Nichols was fatally beaten by police (Uncredited/AP/REX/Shutterstock)Mr Crump hit back at any rumours Tyre Nichols was targeted by officers, saying: "All these rumours are bogus and untrue.
He added: "We want to remain laser focused on getting justice for Tyre Nichols."
The officers pleaded not guilty to charges of second-degree murder, aggravated assault, aggravated kidnapping, official misconduct and official oppression. They are all out on bond. Their next hearing has been scheduled for May 1.
The five officers in court (Sky News)"Be patient. Work with your attorneys." Judge James Jones Jr. said to the officers. "There may be some high emotions in this case."
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Nichols' mother, RowVaughn Wells, and stepfather, Rodney Wells, were in court along with their lawyer, civil rights attorney Ben Crump.
The police killing of Nichols is the latest police killing to prompt nationwide protests and an intense public discussion about police brutality.
One of the officers stands behind his lawyer (Sky News)Nichols, 29, was Black. All five officers charged in his death also are Black.
He was stopped by police for an alleged traffic violation and was pulled out of his car by officers who used profanity, with at least one brandishing a gun.
An officer hit Nichols with a stun gun, but Nichols ran away, towards his nearby home, according to video footage released by the city of Memphis.
Five officers accused of Nichols' murder were part of the Scorpion unit - from top row from left, officers Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Emmitt Martin III, bottom row, from left, Desmond Mills, Jr. and Justin Smith (Uncredited/AP/REX/Shutterstock)Officers who were part of a crime-suppression team known as Scorpion caught up with Nichols and punched him, kicked him and slugged him with a baton as he yelled for his mother.
After the beating, officers stood by and talked with one another as Nichols struggled with his injuries on the ground, video showed.
One officer took photos of Nichols as he was propped up against an unmarked police car, video and records showed.
Nichols was taken to a hospital in an ambulance that left the site of the beating 27 minutes after emergency medical technicians arrived, authorities said.
Police said Nichols had been suspected of reckless driving, but no verified evidence of a traffic violation has emerged in public documents or in video footage.
Memphis Police Director Cerelyn "CJ" Davis has said she has seen no evidence justifying the stop or the officers' response. She disbanded the Scorpion unit, which she created in November 2021, after Nichols' death.
Nichols' family lawyer Ben CrumpOne other white officer who was involved in the initial traffic stop has been fired. An additional officer who has not been identified has been suspended.
Three Memphis Fire Department employees who were present at the site of the arrest have been fired. Two Shelby County sheriff's deputies who also were there have been suspended without pay.
Nichols' family, their lawyers, community leaders and activists have called for changes within the Memphis Police Department on issues related to traffic stops, use of force, transparency and other policies.
Some of the relatives and lawyers have praised Davis and the department for the swiftness of their response and said it should be the standard for other investigations into police brutality.
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