Kristian White, a 34-year-old senior constable, was convicted of manslaughter following his use of a Taser on Clare Nowland, who was wandering the care home with a kitchen knife. The trial revealed that the elderly woman posed no imminent danger.
Australian Officer Convicted of Manslaughter for Taser Incident Involving 95-Year-Old Woman
Australian Officer Convicted of Manslaughter for Taser Incident Involving 95-Year-Old Woman
A police officer has been found guilty of manslaughter after fatally tasering a 95-year-old woman with dementia symptoms during a care home incident in Australia.
In a landmark verdict, Kristian White, a senior constable in New South Wales, has been found guilty of manslaughter after fatally tasering 95-year-old Clare Nowland, who suffered from dementia symptoms. The incident, which ignited public outrage, took place on May 17, 2023, when officers found Nowland wandering the care home with a small kitchen knife.
Clare Nowland's death one week after the incident highlighted the serious consequences of the use of force against vulnerable individuals. During the trial, White argued that his actions were justified due to the perceived threat; however, prosecutors contended that the elderly woman, weighing less than 48 kg (105 lb) and using a walker, was not posing a significant danger. They described White's approach as "impatient" and indicative of a neglect of his duty of care.
The court heard that emergency services responded to the scene where Nowland had been observed holding two serrated steak knives. While she had exhibited erratic behavior previously, including throwing a knife at a staff member, witnesses and healthcare professionals stated they felt safe and adequately able to manage the situation.
CCTV footage presented in court depicted Nowland moving slowly with her walker before White fired his Taser from a distance of 1.5 to 2 meters, resulting in her falling and sustaining a fatal brain injury. Crown prosecutor Brett Hatfield remarked that there was no immediate threat to anyone present and that White had acted out of frustration, not necessity.
The defense pointed towards testimonies from police and paramedics who claimed to feel threatened by Nowland. Nonetheless, these individuals admitted they could have moved to safety given her limited mobility at the time.
After the jury's verdict, Clare Nowland's family expressed gratitude to the legal team but noted the difficulty in coming to terms with the tragedy caused by a serving police officer. New South Wales Police Commissioner Karen Webb stated that the instance represented a profound tragedy and added that the handling of Tasers by law enforcement would be reevaluated, while the officer remains out on bail pending sentencing.
