Key takeaways:
• Police officer Kristian James Samuel White found guilty of manslaughter after tasing a 95-year-old woman in a care home
• Case has led to the review of Taser policy and training among law enforcement officers
• The separate civil suit, previously filed by the victim’s family, was settled privately
Verdict Reached in Controversial Case
Sydney’s court issued a verdict of ‘guilty’ against Kristian James Samuel White, a police officer charged with manslaughter. White had used his Taser on 95-year-old Clare Nowland, resident at a nursing home who refused to relinquish a steak knife.
Nowland, who suffered from dementia, fell backward upon being shocked and died from her injuries sustained from the fall a week later. The impact she sustained from hitting her head was cited by the police as the cause of her fatal injuries.
Officer Actions Under Review
Despite the imminent sentencing that could get White up to 25 years in prison, his employment status is currently under review, pending legal processes. This information was revealed by New South Wales state Police Commissioner Karen Webb after the verdict announcement, expressing her deepest condolences to Nowland’s distraught family.
Webb noted that Clare Nowland’s death at the hands of a police officer should not have occurred. She highlighted that even though the state’s police force reviewed its Taser policy and training in January, no changes were made.
Details of the Incident
During the trial, a video was replayed that demonstrated how White disregarded his colleague’s plea to Nowland, discharging his Taser after stating, “nah, bugger it.” White maintained that he was trained to regard any person wielding a knife as dangerous.
However, the jury refused to accept that White’s Taser use was an appropriate response to the threat presented by the elderly Nowland, who used a walker and weighed around 100 pounds.
When White and his colleagues were called to the scene, staff reported a woman “armed with a knife.” Despite her slow pace, Nowland’s movement towards the police with the knife prompted White to fire his taser.
Public Outrage and Repercussions
The unnecessary and excessive action by White spurred heated debates about the state’s use of Tasers and how they are deployed by law enforcement. Nowland’s death elicited a profound sense of outrage from her community and family, who described her as a frail woman dependent on walking assistance.
Nowland, a resident of Yallambee Lodge nursing home, was mourned by her eight children, 24 grandchildren, and 31 great-grandchildren.
The Nowland family sought justice for Clare through a separate civil suit against the New South Wales state government last year. The suit claimed assault and battery on behalf of Nowland’s estate. A settlement was reached privately this March.
Andrew Thaler, a prominent businessman and community advocate from Cooma, voiced his discontent over the excessive force used on the elderly woman. He argued that instead of resorting to a Taser, a kind word would have sufficed considering Nowland’s condition and vulnerability.
As the community continues to process the shocking events, questions surrounding law enforcement’s use of force, particularly with vulnerable populations, must be addressed. The tragic death of Clare Nowland offers a grim reminder of these concerns’ weight and urgency.