Australian police officer guilty of manslaughter for shocking woman with Taser
A tragic incident unfolded in a nursing home in Australia, leading to the death of a 95-year-old resident, Clare Nowland, at the hands of a police officer. Kristian James Samuel White, the officer in question, has been found guilty of manslaughter for shocking Nowland with a Taser. The verdict was reached by a jury in Sydney after 20 hours of deliberation, and White, who is currently out on bail, could face up to 25 years in prison when he is sentenced.
Nowland, a great-grandmother who suffered from dementia and used a walker, was holding a steak knife and refusing to put it down when White discharged his Taser at her in May 2023. The shock caused Nowland to fall backward, leading to her passing away a week later in the hospital. Police initially claimed that Nowland’s fatal injuries were a result of her hitting her head on the floor, rather than directly from the electric shock of the Taser.
The court proceedings revealed that White’s actions were deemed unnecessary and excessive by the prosecutor, as Nowland posed no significant threat due to her frail condition. In a chilling video played during the trial, White was heard saying “nah, bugger it” before using the Taser, despite being instructed multiple times to drop the knife. White, who is 34 years old, justified his actions by stating that he was taught to view anyone wielding a knife as dangerous.
The case has sparked a debate about the use of Tasers by law enforcement officers in Australia. In response to the tragic incident, NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb expressed her condolences to Nowland’s family and acknowledged that the situation should never have occurred. The state’s police force reviewed its Taser policy and training following the incident, but no changes were made as a result.
Nowland, survived by a large family including eight children, 24 grandchildren, and 31 great-grandchildren, was a resident of Yallambee Lodge, a nursing home in Cooma. The shocking turn of events has raised questions about the training and protocols surrounding the use of Tasers in law enforcement and serves as a harsh reminder of the consequences of excessive force.
