What is “second-degree murder” in Tennessee? Five former Memphis police officers have been charged with second-degree murder and other crimes for the death of Tyre Nichols. Nichols, who was 29 years old, died on January 10 after what Memphis police called a “confrontation” three days earlier during a traffic stop near his mother’s house. In a preliminary report, an outside forensic pathologist said that Nichols had “extensive bleeding caused by a severe beating.”
Memphis’s police chief says that the death of Tyre Nichols has led to a thorough internal investigation and a reevaluation of the city’s specialized units. In this article, we’ll talk about what Tennessee law says about second-degree murder and what could happen if someone is found guilty of this crime.
What is Second-Degree Murder?
Even though it is not as bad as first-degree murder (killing someone in the “heat of passion“), second-degree murder is still a capital crime in Tennessee. In Tennessee, only first-degree murder is punishable by death, not second-degree murder. But it is a Class A felony, which is the worst type of crime in the state.
Specifically, “a knowing killing of another; or a killing of another that results from the unlawful distribution of any Schedule I or Schedule II drug, when the drug is the proximate cause of the death of the user
according to the laws of Tennessee, this is second-degree murder.
What is the Difference Between First- and Second-Degree Murder?
In Tennessee, the term “first-degree murder” is only used for the most evil killings: those that are planned and carried out with cold calculation. This is Tennessee’s most serious crime, and the punishment could be life in prison without the chance of parole.
What is the Penalty for Second-Degree Murder?
In the Volunteer State, a person who commits second-degree murder could get 15 to 60 years in prison and a maximum fine of $50,000. If the five officers are found guilty of the new charges of aggravated assault while working together, aggravated kidnapping, official misconduct, and official oppression, they could get even worse punishments.
Latest posts by GSR (see all)
- Letitia James Holds Victory Press Conference - February 24, 2024
- Is Kevin Costner Leaving Yellowstone? - February 8, 2024
- Was Kim Petras Born Male | Is Kim Petras Transgender? - February 8, 2024
- Napoleon Movie Release Date, Cast - February 8, 2024
- Is Ruby Gillman Teenage Kraken streaming on Disney+? - February 7, 2024