MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Three former Memphis police officers are set to face a jury from Chattanooga as their trial on second-degree murder charges begins Monday. The charges stem from the beating death of Tyre Nichols following a 2023 traffic stop in Memphis.

Opening statements are expected in the trial of former officers Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, and Justin Smith. All three have pleaded not guilty and already face potential prison time after being convicted of federal charges last year.

The incident, captured on police video, showed the officers pepper-spraying Nichols, 29, and using a Taser before he fled the traffic stop on January 7, 2023. The officers pursued Nichols, ultimately beating him near his home as he called out for his mother. Nichols died three days later.

The video sparked national protests and intensified calls for police reform, particularly in Memphis, a majority-Black city.

The jury for the state trial was selected from Hamilton County, which includes Chattanooga, after Judge James Jones Jr. ordered the case be heard outside Shelby County due to concerns about pretrial publicity.

The officers face charges of second-degree murder, aggravated assault, aggravated kidnapping, official misconduct, and official oppression. Two other officers, Emmitt Martin and Desmond Mills Jr., are also charged but will not be tried with their former colleagues. Martin and Mills are expected to change their not guilty pleas in state court, according to lawyers involved in the case.

The five officers were fired and indicted by a federal grand jury on civil rights and witness tampering charges. Martin and Mills pleaded guilty to federal charges under deals with prosecutors. Bean and Smith were acquitted of civil rights charges related to excessive force, while Haley was acquitted of violating Nichols' civil rights causing death but convicted of lesser charges.

In December, the U.S. Justice Department reported that a 17-month investigation found the Memphis Police Department uses excessive force and discriminates against Black people. The department, which is more than 50% Black, was led by Police Chief Cerelyn "CJ" Davis, who is also Black.

The five officers were part of the now-disbanded Scorpion Unit, a crime suppression team targeting drugs, illegal guns, and violent offenders. The unit was known for using force against unarmed individuals.

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