Officer Found Guilty of Manslaughter After Taser Incident with Elderly Woman

Kristian White's actions, which resulted in the death of Clare Nowland, have sparked outrage and raised serious questions about police use of force.

In a landmark case that has reverberated through Australia, Senior Constable Kristian White has been found guilty of manslaughter for using a Taser on 95-year-old Clare Nowland, a resident at Yallambee Lodge who exhibited signs of dementia. The incident occurred on May 17, 2023, when Nowland was discovered wandering the care home late at night with a small kitchen knife. White deployed his Taser shortly after arriving at the scene, fatally injuring the elderly woman, who passed away from her injuries a week later.

During the trial in the New South Wales Supreme Court, prosecutors emphasized that Nowland posed no real threat, describing her as frail, weighing under 48 kilograms (105 pounds) and relying on a walker for mobility. They argued that the officer acted out of impatience, as he fired the Taser after only a few minutes of confrontation, despite the fact that emergency personnel had already attempted to disarm her without resorting to lethal measures. Crown prosecutor Brett Hatfield criticized the officer's hasty actions, saying, "Who could she have injured at that moment? No one."

The footage presented in court revealed the elderly woman slowly shuffling toward an officer while brandishing the knife. White, who stood at a distance of 1.5 to 2 meters away, warned her he would discharge his weapon before firing without further delay. The Taser deployment led to Nowland falling and suffering a fatal brain injury.

White defended his actions, claiming he perceived an imminent threat of violence. He expressed his sorrow over the outcome but faced significant scrutiny from both the prosecution and the public. Nowland's family expressed gratitude for the jury's decision, noting that they considered her death at the hands of a police officer to be criminal and unjustified.

The New South Wales Police Commissioner, Karen Webb, stated that White's employment status is pending legal review and affirmed that Taser policies and training within the force have been reassessed and deemed appropriate. She remarked, "The death of Clare Nowland is a terrible tragedy... this should never have happened." White, who remains free on bail, is scheduled for sentencing at a later date.