In a case that sparked public outrage, Officer Kristian White was convicted for the manslaughter of Clare Nowland, who died after being Tasered while holding a kitchen knife. Testimonies revealed that she posed no immediate threat due to her limited mobility.
Officer Convicted for Manslaughter of Elderly Woman Following Taser Incident
Officer Convicted for Manslaughter of Elderly Woman Following Taser Incident
A police officer has been found guilty of manslaughter after Taser usage led to the death of a 95-year-old woman in an Australian care home.
A police officer in Australia has been found guilty of manslaughter after an incident that resulted in the death of a 95-year-old woman. Kristian White, 34, faced trial for using his Taser on Clare Nowland, who was discovered wandering in her care home with a small kitchen knife on May 17, 2023. Despite claims from White that his actions were necessary, prosecutors argued that Mrs. Nowland posed no real danger due to her frailty and reliance on a walker, weighing under 48 kg (105 lbs).
The court in New South Wales learned that emergency services had been called to Yallambee Lodge in Cooma shortly after 4 AM that day. Although Mrs. Nowland had reportedly displayed signs of confusion and some aggressive behavior in the previous months, there was evidence to suggest that she was not a risk. She had previously entered another resident's room with knives but was not considered a threat by the individual involved.
Surveillance footage presented during the trial illustrated Mrs. Nowland using her walker to shuffle forward slowly before she raised the knife, prompting White to use his Taser despite the distance between them. The officer justified his decision by suggesting an imminent “violent confrontation” was at hand, yet he used the Taser only three minutes after arriving at the scene, with prosecutors contending that he acted out of impatience.
Following the incident, Mrs. Nowland succumbed to her injuries a week later, resulting in widespread outrage. Her family expressed gratitude to the legal system but called it a “criminal and unjustified act," while the New South Wales Police Commissioner acknowledged the tragedy and stated that White's employment status was under review. Additionally, the police's Taser protocols were reassessed and deemed appropriate, but the controversy surrounding this incident continues to provoke discussion about police use of force, particularly against vulnerable individuals. White remains on bail pending sentencing.
