A former Memphis police officer accused of taking part in the deadly beating of Tyre Nichols during a traffic stop allegedly texted photos of the victim to his girlfriend as the harrowing incident was unfolding.
Brittany Leake, a current Memphis police officer and now former girlfriend of Demetrius Haley, took the stand a week-and-a-half into the trial of Haley, Tadarrius Bean and Justin Smith.
The three ex-MPD officers are accused of violating 29-year-old Nichols' civil rights through excessive use of force, unlawful assault, failing to intervene in the assault and failing to render medical aid, in connection with the January 2023 traffic stop, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
They pleaded not guilty to the charges.
During her testimony Wednesday, Leake said Haley texted a photo of Nichols on the ground with his eyes closed, hands behind his back, and what appeared to be blood around his mouth, according to the Associated Press and WATN-TV.
Upon receiving the disturbing picture, her immediate thought was: "Oh my God, he definitely needs to go" to the hospital, she told the court, according to the outlets. "I wasn't offended, but it was difficult to look at."
Leake said she deleted the photo because it was against department policy. She alleged it wasn't the first time Haley sent her photos while on patrol.
Police body cam footage captured the savage beating of Nichols, who was pulled over for reckless driving.
During the initial stop, officers deployed a Taser and pepper sprayed Nichols.
Nichols fled, but was tracked down by the five police officers, who are also Black, minutes later. They allegedly proceeded to beat him to death as he called out for his mom, while he uttered, "I'm just trying to go home," the DOJ alleged in a press release, citing the footage.
Nichols succumbed to his injuries at the hospital, three days after the brutal assault.
A coroner determined he died from blunt force trauma to the head.
Earlier this year, two of the officers, Emmitt Martin III and Desmond Mills Jr., struck plea deals for their involvement and agreed to testify against Haley, Bean and Smith.
Their trials remain ongoing.
