Police officer found guilty of manslaughter in taser incident involving 95-year-old woman

A police officer in Australia has been found guilty of manslaughter after fatally shocking a 95-year-old woman with a Taser in a nursing home.

The jury determined that Clare Nowland, a dementia patient armed with a knife, did not pose an "imminent" threat to justify the use of the weapon.

Senior Constable Kristian White was called to Yallambee Lodge in New South Wales in May 2023 after staff requested assistance with Nowland, who was wielding two knives while using her mobility walker.

Court documents revealed that Nowland, who refused to return to her room, had thrown a knife at a staff member before being cornered by police and paramedics.

She continued to hold a steak knife despite repeated requests to drop it. White ultimately deployed his Taser, leading to Nowland’s fall and subsequent death a week later from head injuries.

During the trial, prosecutors argued that White’s use of the Taser was "utterly unnecessary" and an excessive response to the frail great-grandmother.

The jury heard that Tasers should only be used on elderly individuals in "exceptional circumstances," and White’s actions breached his duty of care by engaging in an unlawful and dangerous act.

Closed-circuit footage presented to the court showed Nowland in her pajamas, sitting in a small office with her walking frame nearby.

White testified that he believed the situation could escalate into a violent confrontation, although he admitted to seeing Nowland as small in stature and elderly. However, he denied she was frail or weak, a point contested by prosecutors.

On the video, White can be heard repeatedly asking Nowland to drop the knife. After she stood up with one hand on her walker, White warned her she would be tased.

After further refusals, he said, "Nah, bugger it," before deploying the Taser, which he had pointed at her for over a minute.

White defended his actions, claiming he felt the Taser was his only option to ensure the situation didn’t worsen.

He acknowledged it would cause injury and pain but argued that the risk had escalated. Crown Prosecutor Brett Hatfield, however, criticized White’s shifting testimony and described the use of force as excessive and unjustified.

The jury ultimately convicted White of manslaughter, concluding his actions went beyond a mere breach of care. Nowland’s family expressed relief at the verdict, calling it a step toward justice for their loved one. They also thanked the court for recognizing the officer’s actions as criminal and unjustified.

White, who was suspended from the NSW Police Service following the incident, will face sentencing at a later date.

The case has drawn significant public scrutiny, highlighting questions about the use of force by law enforcement against vulnerable individuals.