This story will be updated throughout the day on Thursday. MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- After nearly four weeks, the jury will soon determine the fate of three former Memphis Police officers accused of beating Tyre Nichols to death during a traffic stop in 2023. The jury started deliberating on Thursday morning. Each of the 12 jurors will have to agree unanimously on each count for each defendant. ► MORE ON TYRE NICHOLS Judge Mark Norris read the jury's instructions, and the prosecution and defense finished presenting their cases with closing arguments Wednesday night. The prosecution wrapped up their case by telling the jury that Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, and Justin Smith "Beat him (Nichols), left him to die, and tried to cover it up.” "They have blamed everyone but themselves," said prosecuting attorney Kathryn Gilbert. “They wanted it to be a beatdown, and they made sure that it was.” Meanwhile, defense attorneys argued over the last four weeks of testimony that the former officers participated in a "high-risk" traffic stop involving a suspect who was resisting and under the influence of drugs. Their cases heavily focused on the officer's training, or in their words, lack of training. They argued that the officers were blinded by pepper spray, the kicks and punches to Nichols were consistent with MPD policy, and they aided Nichols by calling for medical on the scene. “These guys are doing life or death work,” said Bean's attorney, John Keith Perry. “They were serious business and they were doing their job.” Bean, Haley, and Smith face the same four federal counts – Violating Tyre Nichols’ Civil Rights, Deliberate Indifference to his medical needs, Conspiracy to cover up their use of unlawful force, and Obstruction by intentionally omitting information to those writing reports on the arrest of Nichols. The first two counts of the indictment carry a maximum penalty of life in prison. The last two carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. 📡 See more breaking news, local news and weather from WREG.com for Memphis and the Mid-South. 📧 Sign up for WREG newsletters and have the latest top stories sent right to your inbox. All five officers, including Desmond Mills and Emmitt Martin who have already taken deals and pleaded guilty to federal charges, also face state criminal charges of second-degree murder in the Nichols case. On January 7, 2023, Tyre Nichols was severely beaten during a traffic stop in Hickory Hill, right down the road from his home. Three days later, on January 10, he died from blunt force trauma to the head, according to an autopsy report. The five officers accused of the beating were fired by the Memphis Police Department and indicted in state court just days after the incident. Body camera and Skycop camera footage were released of the beating, and a few months later, a federal indictment followed.