- Police officer accused of Tasering grandmother
- Kristian White faced trial on Monday
A police officer swore before shooting a 95-year-old dementia patient with a Taser as she approached him with a steak knife, a jury heard.
Police constable Kristian James Samuel White appeared in the New South Wales Supreme Court on Monday when he pleaded not guilty to manslaughter to a jury.
The 34-year-old man is alleged to have used a Taser on great-grandmother Clare Nowland at the Yallambee Lodge nursing home in the southern New South Wales town of Cooma in the early hours of May 17, 2023.
He visited the facility with his partner after receiving reports that an “aggressive” patient was raising a steak knife at staff, prosecutor Brett Hatfield SC said.
Police constable Kristian James Samuel White appeared in the New South Wales Supreme Court on Monday when he pleaded not guilty to manslaughter in front of a jury.
The 34-year-old man is alleged to have used a Taser on great-grandmother Clare Nowland at the Yallambee Lodge nursing home in the southern New South Wales town of Cooma in the early hours of May 17, 2023.
The 95-year-old man suffered from dementia and used a four-wheeled walker and had raised the knife several times in front of the two officers, the jury heard.
White issued a series of warnings before saying “fuck it” and discharging his gun, Hatfield said.
Mrs Nowland hit her head on the ground when she fell and suffered an inoperable brain haemorrhage, dying in Cooma Hospital a week after the incident.
‘Are you guilty or not guilty?’ Associate Justice Ian Harrison asked when White was formally arraigned on Monday.
“Not guilty, your honor,” the officer responded.
White’s partner supported him in court, which was also attended by a large number of Mrs Nowland’s relatives.
The trial continues.