A former senior constable with the New South Wales Police, Kristian White, in a verdict, has been found guilty of manslaughter in the death of a woman with dementia symptoms, Clare Nowland, in Australia.
The 95-year-old woman, Mrs. Nowland, who weighed just 48kg and relied on a walker, succumbed to injuries a week after White deployed a Taser on her during a confrontation at Yallambee Lodge, a care home in Cooma, in May 2023.
The court’s decision, delivered on Wednesday at the New South Wales Supreme Court, marked the end of a highly emotional trial that sparked national outrage over police conduct and the treatment of elderly citizens.
Police and paramedics were called to the care home in the early hours of May 17, 2023, after Mrs. Nowland was seen roaming the facility with two serrated steak knives.
The prosecution told the court that Mrs. Nowland, showing signs of cognitive decline, was moving slowly and posed no immediate threat to anyone at the time of the Taser discharge.
Footage presented during the trial showed Mrs. Nowland using her walker to shuffle forward by 1m over the course of a minute before stopping and raising one of the blades.
Despite her limited mobility, White fired his Taser from a distance of about 1.5m, causing her to fall and sustain a fatal brain bleed.
Crown prosecutor Brett Hatfield argued that White’s actions were “impatient” and unnecessary, highlighting that the officer fired the Taser just three minutes after arriving on the scene.
“Who could she have injured at that moment? No one,” Hatfield stated, adding that White had neglected his duty of care.
The defence countered that White perceived an imminent threat and acted to prevent a violent confrontation.
White testified that he was devastated by Mrs. Nowland’s death and did not believe she would be significantly injured by the Taser.
However, evidence from White’s police partner and attending paramedics undermined the defence’s claims. They testified that while Mrs. Nowland’s actions were concerning, her limited mobility meant they could have easily moved to safety without resorting to force.
The jury ultimately sided with the prosecution, convicting White of manslaughter.
Mrs. Nowland’s family, who attended the trial, expressed gratitude to the legal team and jury in a statement released by their lawyer.
They described the officer’s actions as a “criminal and unjustified act” and called for privacy as they processed the verdict.
“We 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 unjust,” the statement read.
White, who had been suspended from the police force during the trial, remains on bail and will be sentenced at a later date.
