MEMPHIS, Tenn. — One of the former police officers charged in connection with the death of Tyre Nichols last year testified during trial on Tuesday about the beating Nichols suffered before he died.

Former Memphis police officer Emmitt Martin III testified in court about the traffic stop on Jan, 7, 2023.

Martin told the prosecutor that former officers Tadarrius Bean and Justin Smith chased and punched a “helpless” Nichols and didn’t have their handcuffs out when Martin reached them after the pursuit.

Martin said he was “angry” the 29-year-old fled, and the officers, who were part of the police department’s now-disbanded Scorpion Unit had yet to make any arrests the night officers pulled Nichols over.

“I figured that’s what he should get,” Martin said.

Martin also told the court his colleagues “exaggerated” Nichols’ behavior that night he was beaten by police.

Videos of the violent traffic stop were played for jurors. Nichols mother and stepfather, RowVaughn and Rodney Wells, sat outside the courtroom. RowVaughn has not watched the video.

The officers were fired from Memphis PD after Nichols’ death and later indicted on the federal charges. Martin and former Memphis officer Desmond Mills, Jr. pleaded guilty and took plea deals, and could testify against their former colleagues.

Bean, Smith and Demetrius Haley have pleaded not guilty to charges of depriving Nichols of his civil rights through excessive force and failure to intervene, and obstructed justice through witness tampering.

More on the federal trial and death of Tyre Nichols.