TYRE NICHOLS UPDATE WEEK 2 DAY 3 EX COP EMMITT MARTIN III AND BRITTANY LEAKE TESTIFIES
5MEMPHIS, Tenn. - The federal trial for three former Memphis Police officers charged with the murder of Tyre Nichols started Monday, September 9.
FOX13 Investigates reporter Kayla Solomon is in the courtroom taking notes. Continue to check this story for live updates on the trial.
After Martin finished up on the stand, we heard from three additional witnesses on behalf of federal prosecutors.
The first was Brittany Leake, ex-girlfriend to defendant Demetrius Haley.
Leake is a current Memphis Police officer who previously worked in the department’s property room.
She testified that on the night of January 7, 2023, she was on the phone with Haley when he was working.
She said she was on the phone with Haley when she was interrupted by him listening to his radio and responding to a call.
She said she heard verbal commands and yelling for close to 10 minutes, and then Haley hung up.
Soon after, she said she got a photo in a group chat from Haley of a beaten, bloody man, she later learned was Tyre Nichols.
She said she responded to Haley minutes later, texting him, “Oh my God, he needs to go to the Med.”
Next up was MPD dispatcher Yentl Evans.
She testified that she was the person who called for medical attention to be called, but there was a delay between the initial call and trying to track down the location.
We also heard from paramedic Jesse Guy, who treated Nichols on the scene that night
He said when he got there, Nichols was propped up against a car and was unresponsive.
He said the first responder EMTs, Robert Long and JaMichael Sandridge, had been there already and told him he ‘just went out’ when he got to the scene.
He said officers on scene told him Nichols “took something”, implying drugs, so he gave Narcan, but Nichols did not respond to it.
He said they were forced to go to St. Francis Hospital because it was the closest hospital and Nichols stopped breathing and also did not have a pulse.
He also testified that he noticed scratches, swelling to the head, marks around the neck and trauma.
He told the jury he had to intubate Nichols in the ambulance and also told his partner to begin doing CPR because Nichols flatlined.
He said, “I was trying to save his life.”
He said, “I was trying to save his life.”
He also testified that he felt something was up on the initial scene because officers were “huddled up together”.
During cross-examination, Michael Stengel, representing Demetrius Haley, asked Guy when he knew this was a medical emergency.
Guy responded, “When I laid eyes on him?”
The day wrapped just before 5:30 p.m.
Guy’s cross-examination will continue Thursday morning.
He also testified that he felt something was up on the initial scene because officers were “huddled up together”.
During cross-examination, Michael Stengel, representing Demetrius Haley, asked Guy when he knew this was a medical emergency.
Guy responded, “When I laid eyes on him?”
The day wrapped just before 5:30 p.m.
Guy’s cross-examination will continue Thursday morning.
Attorney Martin Zummach, representing former Memphis Police officer Justin Smith, continued his cross-examination of former Memphis Police officer Emmitt Martin. Martin previously said that he told his therapist that he was having "homicidal thoughts" after being hit by a suspect's car in November 2022. He described waning to "get revenge" on the suspect.
Zummach asked Martin, "Did you tell Lt. DeWayne Smith you were having homicidal thoughts going back on the streets?" Martin said he did have those thoughts on the day he was hit by the car and the days immediately after but said, "I did not have them on January 7, 2023." Zummach asked Martin why he didn't tell his lieutenant and Martin responded that he didn't feel the need to because he was on desk duty and not on the streets.
Zummach then began questioning Martin about a portion of body camera footage from former officer Desmond Mills. Mills was the first of the two officers to accept a plea deal on the federal charges. Prosecutors recommended a 15-year prison sentence for Mills. In the portion of body camera video in question, all five of the former officers can be heard laughing. In the video, Martin refers to throwing "straight haymakers" and former officer on trial Justin Smith said something along the lines of "I was throwing pieces." Zummach asked why Martin didn't say anything about kicking Nichols in that clip. Martin
Attorney Martin Zummach, representing former Memphis Police officer Justin Smith, continued his cross-examination of former Memphis Police officer Emmitt Martin. Martin previously said that he told his therapist that he was having "homicidal thoughts" after being hit by a suspect's car in November 2022. He described waning to "get revenge" on the suspect.