Police Officer Kristian White, 34, has been found guilty of manslaughter after Tasering a 95-year-old woman with dementia symptoms at an Australian care home, leading to her death a week later.
The incident occurred on May 17, 2023, at Yallambee Lodge in Cooma, New South Wales, when police were called to the care home around 4:00 AM after Mrs. Clare Nowland was seen wandering with two serrated steak knives. While not formally diagnosed with dementia, Mrs. Nowland had been showing signs of cognitive decline and had occasionally behaved aggressively towards healthcare workers.
During the incident, Mrs. Nowland had entered another resident’s room with the knives and had thrown one blade at a staff member. When emergency services arrived, they repeatedly asked her to drop the knife and attempted to disarm her using thick gloves.
Footage shown to the jury revealed Mrs. Nowland slowly moving with her walker, covering just 1 meter in a minute before stopping and raising the blade. White warned her and then fired his Taser when she was 1.5-2 meters away, causing her to fall and hit her head, which triggered a fatal brain bleed.
The prosecution argued that Mrs. Nowland, who weighed under 48kg and relied on a walker, was not a genuine threat. Crown prosecutor Brett Hatfield stated that White was “impatient” and used the Taser only three minutes after finding her, saying, “Who could she have injured at that moment? No one.”
White claimed in his incident report that he felt a “violent confrontation was imminent” and told the court he didn’t think Mrs. Nowland would be “significantly injured.” His defense pointed to testimony from a paramedic and his police partner, who said they felt scared for their safety. However, both admitted they could have easily moved away given Mrs. Nowland’s limited mobility.
NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb acknowledged the tragedy, stating, “The death of Clare Nowland is a terrible tragedy… this should never have happened.” She confirmed that White’s employment is under legal review and that the force’s Taser policies were found to be appropriate.
Mrs. Nowland’s family, present during the verdict, issued a statement through a lawyer, expressing that they would need time to process the jury’s confirmation that her death was a “criminal and unjustified act.”
White, who remains on bail, will be sentenced at a later date. The case has sparked significant public outcry and raised questions about police use of force, particularly when dealing with vulnerable individuals.
The verdict highlights the critical importance of de-escalation techniques and compassionate approaches when responding to situations involving elderly individuals with potential cognitive impairments.
