MEMPHIS, Tenn. — There has been a delay in the state sentencing of two former Memphis Police officers, who entered guilty pleas in the beating death of Tyre Nichols.
Many months after former Memphis Police officers Desmond Mills Jr. and Emmitt Martin III entered guilty pleas in the beating death of Tyre Nichols, and on Tuesday, WREG learned their possible punishment on the state side is being postponed.
Defense attorneys for Mills and Martin have been ordered back to state court July 31.
When it comes to the state sentencing the two, Shelby County Judge James Jones Jr. is waiting to see what happens first in federal court.
“Obviously there has been some developments over on the federal side,” said Jones.
“As far as reasons behind his recusal, that is under seal right now. I can tell you Judge Norris is acting in accordance with the law. This is unusual,” said Blake Ballin, Mills’s defense attorney.
Certainly unexpected, as what eventually happens on the federal side could determine what happens at the state level.
“Mr. Mills, my client, his state case, the way we are going to resolve that, has to do with how much time he gets in his federal case,” said Ballin.
“Keep the court informed on where we stand with this scheduling conference on the federal side,” said Judge Jones.
For now, the state sentencing has been stalled for both Mills and Martin.
“This will all get figured out. Unfortunately, this is a roadblock we are all going to have to deal with. With a little bit of patience, this will all be resolved,” said Ballin.
WREG learned the federal court issued a notice saying a status conference, which is a court-ordered meeting, is set for Friday before U.S District Court Judge Sheryl Lipman.