NSW Premier Chris Minns says there’s no evidence police are holding back any other information from the public on the tasering of a 95-year-old woman, following claims of a cover-up.
Documents revealed by AAP under Freedom of Information laws on Wednesday showed police removed any mention of paramedics, a knife and a Taser in their first statement about the stunning of Clare Nowland last month.
She was tasered during a confrontation with police while walking with a frame and holding a steak knife at the Yallambee Lodge in Cooma on May 17.
The mother of eight, who had dementia, died a week later in hospital.
Police Commissioner Karen Webb says informing the 95-year-old’s family of the confrontation was the priority, hence the public was told little in the initial 36 hours.
Mr Minns has rebuffed suggestions police were withholding anything else.
“There is no evidence that anything else is being withheld from the NSW public,” the premier told Nine’s Today show on Thursday.
“After a week of inquiries by the NSW Police, a serving NSW police officer was charged with very serious crimes.”
Mr Minns backed other investigative steps police had taken and stressed the media release was a distinct issue.
“The context of the suggestions around a cover-up need to be seen in the full context of the inquiry,” he said.
“I do have confidence NSW Police did their job and took this very troubling incident very seriously from the very beginning.”
The release of the draft media release to AAP caught Police Minister Yasmin Catley off guard on Wednesday.
She later told parliament she was not aware of the “earlier, detailed draft”.
Opposition leader Mark Speakman said the matter raised questions about the minister’s capability to handle these types of matters.
“What is disappointing here is the disappearance of the police minister,” he told ABC TV.
“She didn’t say anything for six days and then, another 22 days before she held a media conference. She’s been missing in action.”
Mr Minns has swatted away suggestions he should sack his police minister.
He had seen evidence of her good working relationship with Ms Webb during the recent Hunter bus tragedy, the premier said.
The officer who fired the stun weapon, Senior Constable Kristian White, has been suspended with pay and charged with three offences, including recklessly causing grievous bodily harm.
The 33-year-old is due to appear in a Cooma court on July 5.
– AAP
