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Defense lawyers in Tyre Nichols case want jury to hear evidence about items found in his car

FILE - A crowd gathers to remember Tyre Nicholas during a candlelight vigil on the anniversary of his death, Jan. 7, 2024, in Memphis, Tenn. A federal judge heard arguments Tuesday, May 28 about whether the jury at the trial of four former Memphis police officers charged in the beating death of Tyre Nichols should hear evidence that Nichols had a hallucinogenic drug and stolen credit cards in his car when he was pulled over that night. (AP Photo/Karen Pulfer Focht, file)
FILE - A crowd gathers to remember Tyre Nicholas during a candlelight vigil on the anniversary of his death, Jan. 7, 2024, in Memphis, Tenn. A federal judge heard arguments Tuesday, May 28 about whether the jury at the trial of four former Memphis police officers charged in the beating death of Tyre Nichols should hear evidence that Nichols had a hallucinogenic drug and stolen credit cards in his car when he was pulled over that night. (AP Photo/Karen Pulfer Focht, file) FILE - A crowd gathers to remember Tyre Nicholas during a candlelight vigil on the anniversary of his death, Jan. 7, 2024, in Memphis, Tenn. A federal judge heard arguments Tuesday, May 28 about whether the jury at the trial of four former Memphis police officers charged in the beating death of Tyre Nichols should hear evidence that Nichols had a hallucinogenic drug and stolen credit cards in his car when he was pulled over that night. (AP Photo/Karen Pulfer Focht, file)

By ADRIAN SAINZ / Associated Press 4 min read

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — A federal judge heard arguments Tuesday about whether the jury at the trial of four former Memphis police officers charged in the beating death of Tyre Nichols should hear evidence that Nichols had a hallucinogenic drug and stolen credit cards in his car when he was pulled over that night.

During a hearing, lawyers for the four officers said the discovery made by investigators after the January 2023 beating and discussed in court documents explains why Nichols didn’t immediately pull over when an officer tried to stop him. They said it also explains why Nichols later ran away after officers yanked him from his car and hit him with a stun gun and pepper spray while he resisted their attempts to handcuff him.

Five officers later caught up with Nichols, who was just steps from his house when they punched, kicked and hit him with a baton, actions that were caught on police video. Officers were seen milling about and talking with each other as Nichols struggled with his injuries while sitting on the ground, propped up against a car.

Nichols, 29, died three days after the beating. The case sparked outrage around the world and intensified calls for police reform in the city and the U.S.

Emmitt Martin, Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Desmond Mills Jr. and Justin Smith were indicted in September on federal charges that they deprived Nichols of his rights through excessive force and failure to intervene, and obstructed justice through witness tampering. They also have been charged in state court with second-degree murder.