(ANSA) - WASHINGTON, FEBRUARY 17 - The 5 officers accused of the death of Tire Nichols, the African American beaten to death in Memphis on January 7 and died three days later, have pleaded not guilty.
CNN reports.
Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Desmond Mills Jr., Emmitt Martin III and Justin Smith, all African Americans, were fired following the 29-year-old's death.
They appeared in court today for the first time with their attorneys before a Shelby County Criminal Court judge and pleaded not guilty to charges of second-degree murder, aggravated assault, kidnapping and official misconduct.
The next hearing has been set for May 1st.
The killing of Tire Nichols was the latest in a series of incidents of excessive police violence against the black community and has sparked outrage and protests across the United States.
(HANDLE).