Police Officer Convicted of Manslaughter in Taser Death of 95-Year-Old Woman

An Australian police officer has been found guilty of manslaughter after using a Taser on a 95-year-old woman exhibiting symptoms of dementia at a care facility. Kristian White, aged 34, deployed his weapon against Clare Nowland, a great-grandmother, who was discovered carrying a small kitchen knife in the early morning of May 17, 2023. Her passing one week subsequent to the incident sparked considerable public indignation. Senior Constable White contended during his trial that his application of force was justified and commensurate with the perceived threat. Conversely, prosecutors asserted that Mrs. Nowland, who depended on a walker for mobility and weighed less than 48kg (105lb), posed no actual danger, and that the officer, described as “impatient,” had failed in his duty of care towards her. Emergency services, including police and paramedics, were summoned to Yallambee Lodge in Cooma, approximately 114km (71 miles) south of Canberra, around 04:00 on the day the event occurred. This call followed reports of Mrs. Nowland wandering through the care home while holding two serrated steak knives. Evidence presented at the trial in the New South Wales (NSW) Supreme Court indicated that Mrs. Nowland, although not officially diagnosed with dementia, had exhibited symptoms of cognitive impairment in the months preceding her demise and had occasionally shown aggression towards healthcare staff. During that evening, she had entered another resident’s room while holding the knives, though the resident testified in court that he did not perceive any danger. She had also subsequently thrown one of the knives at an employee. The court was informed that upon locating Mrs. Nowland, emergency personnel repeatedly instructed her to release the knife she held in her right hand and had attempted to disarm her using thick gloves. Video evidence presented to the jury depicted the elderly woman, in the moments preceding the Taser deployment, slowly moving forward with her walker – covering 1m (3.3ft) in approximately one minute – before pausing and lifting the blade. White cautioned Mrs. Nowland that his weapon was directed at her, then uttered “bugger it” and discharged the Taser while she remained 1.5m-2m distant. She subsequently fell, striking her head, which resulted in a fatal brain hemorrhage. Last week, Crown prosecutor Brett Hatfield summarized his argument for the jury, stating: “Who could she have injured at that moment? No one.” He further stated that White had deployed his weapon merely three minutes after encountering the woman, adding: “He was fed up, impatient, not prepared to wait any longer.” Nevertheless, in a formal incident report, the officer – who had been suspended from active duty pending court proceedings – indicated that he deployed his Taser due to a belief that a “violent confrontation was imminent.” During the court proceedings, he also testified that he did not anticipate Mrs. Nowland would be “significantly injured” and expressed that he was “devastated” by her passing. The defense presented testimony from a paramedic and White’s police colleague, both of whom stated that Mrs. Nowland’s actions had caused them to fear for their safety. Senior Constable Jessica Pank remarked: “I thought that I was going to be stabbed.” Despite this, both witnesses concurred that they could have readily retreated to safety, considering Mrs. Nowland’s restricted mobility. Mrs. Nowland’s family, present in court for the jury’s decision, extended their gratitude to the prosecutors, the judge, and the jury. In a statement released through a lawyer, which also requested privacy, they conveyed: “The family will take some time to come to terms with the jury’s confirmation that Clare’s death at the hands of a serving NSW police officer was a criminal and unjustified act.” On Wednesday, NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb stated that White’s employment status remained subject to legal review. She further mentioned that the police force’s Taser protocols and training had undergone scrutiny and were deemed appropriate. Commissioner Webb commented: “The death of Clare Nowland is a terrible tragedy… this should never have happened.” White, currently out on bail, is scheduled for sentencing at a subsequent time.