Friday evening, local Tennessee time, the video showing the arrest of Tire Nichols on January 7 this year – and which led to his death in hospital three days later – will be released. The pictures cause so much reaction that US President Joe Biden goes out and asks people to behave peacefully, writes BBC.
Five police officers have been fired and are charged with murder after Tire Nichols (29) died in hospital as a result of the injuries he sustained during the arrest.
MEMORIAL CEREMONY: On Thursday evening, a candlelight vigil was held in Tire Nichol’s memory at the skate park where he used to be. The 29-year-old was arrested and severely attacked by five police officers and died three days later in hospital. Photo: AFP / NTB
sea view
– Absolutely terrible
Lawyers for Nichols’ family say the video will show him being severely beaten.
– What I saw made me sick, says the head of the investigation for the Tennessee agency on Tuesday, after he was able to see the video.
He calls the policemen’s actions “absolutely terrible”.
Local media in Memphis have sent out extra reinforcements for fear of possible demonstrations.
29-year-old Nichols, a black man, was stopped by five police officers, also black, on his way home after taking photos of the sunset in a local park, according to the family’s lawyer.
Police say he was stopped for reckless driving.
THE CHARGE: Here are the five police officers, from left Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Emmitt Martin III, Desmond Mills, Jr. and Justin Smith. They have been fired and are charged with murder. Photo: Ap / NTB
sea view
Biden: Understandable rage
The attorney says the video shows Nichols being sprayed with pepper spray, given electroshock therapy, held and kicked. All five policemen are charged with murder, aggravated assault, kidnapping and oppression.
Biden issued a statement Thursday.
– I am asking, like Tyre’s family, for peaceful demonstrations. The rage is understandable, but violence is never acceptable.
The city’s police chief has also previously asked residents to remain calm.
Nichols’ family and lawyers have seen the video footage.
– He was a human piñata. It was a terrible and uninterrupted beating against this young boy for three minutes, says the lawyer Antonio Romanucci, writer BBC.
The accused police officers’ lawyer says that “nobody wanted Tire Nichols to die”.
