Grandmother, 95, dies after being Tasered by a senior constable – hours after the officer was charged with recklessly harming her Tasered grandmother, 95, has died
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Clare Nowland died on Wednesday evening
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Senior Constable Kristian White charged
A 95-year-old great grandmother who was Tasered by a police officer last week in an assisted living facility has passed away.
Clare Nowland, a dementia victim who weighed simply 43kg, was defied by the official at Yallambee Hotel in southern NSW soon after 4am last Wednesday.
When 33-year-old Senior Constable Kristian White used the Taser on her, she was walking and holding a steak knife.
Mrs. Nowland was taken to the hospital for end-of-life care after suffering a brain bleed.
Seven days after the incident, her death was confirmed on Wednesday evening, with family members reporting that she passed away at Cooma Hospital surrounded by loved ones.
Officer White was charged with recklessly causing grievous bodily harm, assault resulting in actual bodily harm, and common assault just hours before her death was reported.
At a press conference to announce the charges, NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb said that if Mrs. Nowland died, they could be increased.
Following Mrs. Nowland’s death, the NSW Police issued a statement that read, “It is with great sadness we confirm the passing of 95-year-old Clare Nowland in Cooma tonight (Wednesday 24 May 2023).”
Mrs Nowland died calmly in medical clinic soon after 7pm tonight, encompassed by family and friends and family who have mentioned security during this miserable and troublesome time.
‘ Those who were fortunate enough to know, love, and be loved by Mrs. Nowland during a life that was marked by family, kindness, and community are in our thoughts and prayers.
Yasmin Catley, Minister of the NSW Police, also expressed her condolences. “I would like to express my sincere condolences to the Nowland family for the loss of their dearly loved mother, grandmother, and great grandmother, Clare Nowland,” said “on behalf of the NSW Government.”
We also extend our sympathies and thoughts to the Cooma community, Mrs. Nowland’s friends, and Cooma Yallambee Lodge residents and caregivers.
Ms. Catley stated, “We urge people to respect their privacy at this time and we will continue to offer support to the Nowland family as they mourn this loss.”
After White was charged, Magistrate Webb tended to the media. “There’s little more that I can say about it other than to say that the Nowland family have been informed of this development”: “This matter now is before the court.” Official Webb added that her ‘considerations and petitions to God are with Mrs Nowland and her family tonight’.
On July 5, 2023, White is scheduled to appear in Cooma Local Court. He faces recklessly causing grievous bodily harm, which carries a maximum sentence of ten years in prison.
Attack occasioning genuine substantial mischief conveys a jail term of as long as seven years, while being indicted for normal attack could prompt as long as two years in the slammer.
White is said to be 188 centimeters tall and weighs about 140 kilograms. She is more than three times as big as Mrs. Nowland, who is 157 centimeters tall and weighs 43 kilograms.
The officer is still on leave without pay.
Commissioner Webb stated that “his employment will continue to be reviewed, but at the moment, he is still suspended from the workplace.”
She went on to say that White’s charges could be made more serious. It is conceivable.
She stated, “It depends on what happens.” The Commissioner has refused to view bodycam footage of Mrs. Nowland being tasered despite international outrage over the incident.
She likewise declined to deliver the recording to general society, saying it ‘concerns’ her that individuals need to see it.
