Kristian James Samuel White, a police officer, was found guilty of manslaughter by a jury in an Australian court after he used a Taser on a 95-year-old nursing home resident, Clare Nowland, who later died from the incident. The jury deliberated for 20 hours before reaching a verdict in the trial, held in Sydney. White, who remains on bail, faces a potential prison sentence of up to 25 years when sentenced.
The incident occurred in May 2023, when Clare Nowland, a great-grandmother with dementia who used a walker, refused to drop a steak knife she was holding. Police officers, including White, repeatedly told her to put down the knife, and after 21 commands, White discharged his Taser. The shock caused Nowland to fall backward, and she died a week later in the hospital from head injuries sustained in the fall, not from the Taser’s electrical shock.
Police Officer Found Guilty of Manslaughter in Death of 95-Year-Old Nursing Home Resident
While police initially claimed that Nowland’s fatal injuries were caused by the fall rather than the Taser, the jury found White’s actions to be directly responsible for her death. New South Wales Police Commissioner Karen Webb stated that the court had determined the officer’s actions led to Nowland’s death, adding that such an incident should never have occurred. Webb also expressed her condolences to the Nowland family and confirmed that White’s employment status was under review.
During the trial, video footage played in court showed White saying “nah, bugger it” before using the Taser. White defended his actions, arguing that he had been trained to treat any person wielding a knife as a potential threat. However, the prosecution described his use of the Taser as “utterly unnecessary and obviously excessive,” given Nowland’s frail condition and the lack of immediate danger she posed.
Despite White’s defense, the jury rejected the argument that his response was proportionate to the situation. The trial concluded with a conviction for manslaughter, underscoring the concern over the police’s use of force and prompting a review of New South Wales’ Taser policy and training. The case has highlighted issues regarding the use of police force, particularly in situations involving vulnerable individuals.
