Lawyers for two former Memphis police officers being charged with murder in the death of Tyre Nichols said they are waiting to see how the justice system plays out, emphasizing that both of their clients are upset about the situation.
Blake Ballin, attorney for Desmond Mills Jr., and William Massey, attorney for Emmitt Martin, said they have not seen the video of Nichols’ arrest. It is expected to be released Friday evening, according to the Shelby County district attorney.
“Justice means following the law and the law says that no one is guilty until a jury says they’re guilty,” Massey said. He said his client intends to post a bond of $350,000 and also will plead not guilty.
Mills Jr. and Martin, along with three other former MPD officers, were indicted on charges including murder and kidnapping, Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy announced Thursday.
“No one out there that night intended for Tyre Nichols to die,” Massey added.
Ballin said his client, Mills Jr., “could not be more upset about this entire situation.”
He said Mills Jr. is in the process of posting a $250,000 bond to secure his release and plans to enter a not-guilty plea in court.
Though he said he has not had a conversation specifically about Nichols yet with Mills Jr., “to be accused of being involved in the death of another is devastating.”
While this is just the beginning of the process, Ballin said, the announcement of charges is causing Mills Jr. and his family a lot of “anxiety and a lot of pain, not only for his own situation but for what this kind of accusation, what this kind of incident, is doing to our city.”
The attorneys said initial court appearance dates had not yet been set.
CNN’s Andy Rose contributed reporting to this post.
Source: www.cnn.com