In a tragic incident at a nursing home in regional New South Wales, a police officer has been found guilty of manslaughter for fatally shocking a 95-year-old woman with a Taser. The incident occurred when two police officers were called to Yallambee Lodge to assist with a resident, Clare Nowland, who was holding two knives while using a mobility walker.
Clare Nowland, who had dementia, had refused to return to her room and threw a knife at a staff member before emergency services were contacted. When police and paramedics cornered her in an office, she refused to put down a steak knife, leading to the deployment of a Taser by Senior Constable Kristian White.
The jury deliberated for over three days before finding White guilty of breaching his duty of care to Nowland and engaging in an unlawful and dangerous act. White claimed he believed a violent confrontation was imminent, justifying his use of the Taser under standard operating procedures.
The prosecution argued that White's use of the Taser was unnecessary and excessive force against an elderly woman. After being shocked, Nowland fell backward, hitting her head, and passed away a week later in the hospital.
Nowland's family expressed gratitude for the guilty verdict, acknowledging that Clare's death at the hands of a police officer was criminal and unjustified. The sentencing for Senior Constable Kristian White will take place at a later date.
