MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A former Memphis Police Department officer who pleaded guilty in the beating of Tyre Nichols in federal court is again seeking release from custody while waiting to be sentenced.

In a Sept. 19 filing, defense attorneys for Emmitt Martin III argued that a federal judge's biasness prevented a prior motion for release in March 2025 to be granted and now believe the topic should be revisited.

This comes after Tadarrius Bean, Justin Smith and Demetrius Haley were granted a new trial following federal judge Mark S. Norris' recusal in the Tyre Nichols case. Their defense attorneys claimed new trials were warranted because the judge had been biased against the defendants throughout the proceedings.

The three officers were set to be sentenced during the week of June 16, 2025,

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