"The New South Wales Supreme Court concluded that while the officer's actions were grievous, he would not serve jail time, citing his loss of police status and community standing as sufficient punishment."
"Judge Rules Against Jail Time for Officer in Fatal Tasering of 95-Year-Old Woman"
"Judge Rules Against Jail Time for Officer in Fatal Tasering of 95-Year-Old Woman"
"A former police officer who fatally tasered a 95-year-old woman has been spared imprisonment, stirring public outrage."
A former officer, Kristian White, involved in the tragic tasering of a 95-year-old woman with dementia, Clare Nowland, has received a sentence that does not include jail time. The incident occurred at an aged care facility in May 2023 when White encountered Nowland, who was confused and holding a pair of kitchen knives. While he claimed to have acted to prevent a violent confrontation, a jury later convicted him of manslaughter, deeming his response “grossly disproportionate” to the threat she posed.
The distressing case garnered significant public criticism, with the presiding judge characterizing it as "unlike any other" in his nearly 20-year judicial career. Justice Ian Harrison emphasized that the frail and confused Nowland was clearly not a substantial threat, criticizing White's misjudgment of the situation as “inexplicable.”
During the proceedings, it was revealed that White's decision to use his Taser came just three minutes after arriving on the scene. Footage captured him warning Mrs. Nowland before suddenly deploying the weapon, leading to a fall that resulted in her death a week later due to a bleed on the brain.
Family members of Nowland expressed their anguish during the hearing, condemning the actions that altered their lives irrevocably. Her son, Michael Nowland, described the incident as a “gutless coward act,” arguing for justice on behalf of his mother, whom he remembered as “the most caring person in the world.”
In a letter to the family, White expressed his regret over the incident, admitting he never anticipated the severity of Mrs. Nowland's injuries. While the case sparked dialogues on police conduct and the use of Tasers in New South Wales, Commissioner Karen Webb labeled the event a "terrible tragedy" while supporting current training practices.
After evaluating White's circumstances, Justice Harrison opted for a community corrections order involving two years of good behavior and 425 hours of community service, concluding that a prison sentence was unnecessary given the former officer's already significant personal losses.
