On Thursday (Oct. 3), three former Memphis police officers were convicted for their involvement in the 2023 fatal beating of Tyre Nichols, according to CNN. However, they were cleared of the most severe charges.

After roughly six hours of deliberation, the jury returned a mixed verdict for Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, and Justin Smith. All three were convicted of witness tampering in connection with covering up the fatal beating, but Bean and Smith were cleared of civil rights violations.

Haley was acquitted of the most serious civil rights charge related to Nichols’ death but was found guilty of a lesser charge for causing bodily injury. He was also convicted of conspiracy to tamper with witnesses, a charge from which Bean and Smith were acquitted. The outlet reported that the witness tampering charges carry potential sentences of up to 20 years in prison, while the civil rights violation against Haley could result in up to 10 years. Previously, the defendants faced life imprisonment if they were convicted on the most severe charges.

A hearing is scheduled for Monday, Oct. 7, where the defense lawyers will present arguments for their clients' release while they await sentencing. 

As previously reported, on Jan. 7, 2023, Nichols, a Black man, was violently beaten by five Black cops after being pulled over for alleged reckless driving. Nichols attempted to flee toward his mother's house but was caught and brutally assaulted by the officers. Despite medics arriving at the scene, they failed to provide care for 16 minutes. Nichols succumbed to his injuries three days later. Investigations by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Department of Justice followed, and an autopsy confirmed his death was caused by blunt force trauma, ruled a homicide.