Ex-officer in Tyre Nichols case will remain in jail despite motion for release
by: Megan Fayard
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — One of the former Memphis Police officers convicted in the beating death of Tyre Nichols will remain in jail until his January sentencing following the denial of his motion for release.
A judge officially denied a motion for release filed by Demetrius Haley’s attorneys in October of this year. The motion was filed in response to the judge’s decision to keep Haley behind bars without bond until his sentencing.
Haley was convicted of four separate counts in federal court in connection to Nichols’ death.
Haley’s attorneys, Michael Stengel and Stephen Leffler claimed in the appeal that the Magistrate Judge who decided to deny bail for Haley considered his convictions to be of violent crimes, but Stengel and Leffler disagreed.
Judge Mark Norris stated in the denial that “The great weight of the evidence against Mr. Haley at trial, the fact that he was convicted of a crime of violence as defined under the Bail Reform Act, and the fact that he was also convicted of obstructing justice and conspiring with his fellow officers to obstruct justice all weigh against Mr. Haley’s release.”
Judge Norris also mentioned that Haley “has not met his burden to show that he is unlikely to flee,” and has not proven that he is not a danger to others or those in the community.
Stengel filed an appeal shortly after the bond review was denied. Haley’s sentencing is scheduled for January 22, 2025.
On the same day Haley was denied release, Judge Norris delayed sentencing for Emmitt Martin, another ex-MPD officer charged in Nichols’ death.
Martin pleaded guilty in August to two of the four counts against him – excessive force and conspiracy to witness tamper. His sentencing was scheduled for December 5, but will now be pushed back until January 28, 2025.
In October, Tadarrius Bean, Justin Smith, and Haley received mixed verdicts during the federal trial. Smith and Bean were found guilty only on an obstruction charge. A complete list of the verdicts can be found here.
Desmond Mills, the fifth former officer charged in Nichols’ death, pleaded guilty last year to using excessive force and failing to intervene in the unlawful assault, and conspiring to cover up his use of unlawful force by omitting material information and by providing false and misleading information.
Mills’ sentencing hearing was reset to February 20, 2025.
The officers also face state charges in connection to Nichols’ death. A judge recently approved Bean, Smith, and Haley’s motion to sever, separating their trails from Emmitt Martin.
Both state trials will be held in April 2025.
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