Fatal Incident in Nursing Home
Senior Constable Kristian White has been found guilty of manslaughter following the death of 95-year-old Clare Nowland, who succumbed to injuries caused by a tasering incident in May 2023. The confrontation occurred at a nursing home in New South Wales, where Nowland, reportedly frail and weighing less than 50 kilograms, was wandering the halls with a steak knife.
Details of the Incident
White was called to address the situation and repeatedly instructed Nowland, who displayed symptoms of dementia, to drop the knife. Frustrated by her lack of response, he reportedly said “bugger it” before deploying his stun gun. The taser caused Nowland to fall backward, leading to a severe head injury and a brain bleed. She passed away a week later in the hospital.
Court Proceedings and Verdict
During the trial, White argued that his actions were aimed at managing a potential threat. However, after three days of deliberations, a jury convicted the 34-year-old officer of manslaughter. The case also raised allegations against the police department for attempting to downplay the incident by omitting terms like “taser” from initial statements.
