A former police officer, Kristian James Samuel White, has faced significant backlash after being convicted of manslaughter for the death of 95-year-old Clare Nowland following a Taser incident at a nursing home in Cooma, New South Wales. In May 2023, White deployed his Taser during a brief encounter with Nowland, who, suffering from dementia and relying on a walking frame, was reportedly confused and disoriented. She died a week later in hospital.
Despite the severity of the incident, White received a two-year good behaviour bond and was sentenced to community service, a verdict that has drawn criticism for being too lenient. The Crown’s appeal against this sentence was heard in the New South Wales Court of Criminal Appeal, where Director of Public Prosecutions Sally Dowling SC argued that the sentencing judge, Justice Ian Harrison, made crucial errors in assessing the case.
Dowling emphasised that Nowland was in a vulnerable state at the time, unable to properly respond to White’s commands to drop a knife she was holding. Over the course of two minutes and 40 seconds, there was no indication that Nowland posed a genuine threat, as she remained stationary and did not advance towards White. Dowling asserted that White did not provide her with any real opportunity to avoid being tasered and that numerous alternative methods to handle the situation were available to him.
Prosecutors argued that Justice Harrison wrongly judged White’s actions as a severe mistake rather than treating the case with the gravity it deserved. In fact, the need for a strong deterrent for police misconduct was downplayed in Harrison’s sentencing rationale, whereas prosecutors believe it should have been a significant consideration.
Nowland’s family has expressed their profound disappointment with the initial sentencing, describing it as a mere “slap on the wrist” for the officer involved in their mother’s death. Throughout the trial, Nowland’s family remained present to witness proceedings, reinforcing their commitment to seek justice for their mother.
The appeal is ongoing, with many expecting further developments in addressing the implications of this tragic event, which raises broader questions about police use of force, especially against vulnerable individuals.