A police officer in Australia has been convicted of manslaughter for using a taser on a 95-year-old woman living in a nursing home. Senior Constable Kristian White, 34, received the verdict from the New South Wales Supreme Court on November 27. The incident involved Clare Nowland, who was prodding a steak knife during the encounter at Yallambee Lodge in Cooma on May 17, 2023.
After several days of deliberation, a jury reached its decision regarding White. The manslaughter charge in New South Wales has a maximum penalty of 25 years in prison.
The event unfolded early in the morning when White and another officer were called to the nursing home due to concerns that Nowland was seen carrying two steak knives and going into other residents’ rooms. The police officers attempted to communicate with Nowland, who reportedly had dementia, for approximately three minutes. During this time, they warned her that they were armed with a taser.
Tragically, when Nowland refused to drop the knife and stood up, White expressed his frustration and deployed the taser. Following this action, she fell and hit her head, leading to her hospitalization where she later died from a brain hemorrhage.
In court, White stated that he believed using the taser was necessary to ensure the situation was resolved safely, acknowledging that it would cause her injury. He remarked that the potential risk of losing control of the situation justified his actions.
New South Wales Police Commissioner Karen Webb expressed her sorrow over the incident, labeling it as a “terrible tragedy” that should not have occurred. She also mentioned that White’s employment is under review as part of ongoing legal processes.
The family of Clare Nowland was present during the court proceedings and expressed their grief over the jury’s confirmation that her death was a criminal act by a police officer.
Crown Prosecutor Brett Hatfield criticized White’s actions as “utterly unnecessary,” asserting that it was a severe misuse of force. White has been released on bail, and sentencing will take place at a later date.
