The police officer who discharged a taser at 95-year-old Clare Nowland in her aged care home has been hit with three charges over the incident.
Senior Constable Kristian White, 33, will face charges of recklessly causing grievous bodily harm, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and common assault when he fronts Cooma Local Court on July 5, police said.
It’s “possible” the charges could be upgraded “depending on what happens” NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb said on Wednesday night.
Officers were called to Yallambee Lodge aged care home in Cooma about 4.15am on Wednesday after resident Clare Nowland, who has dementia, was found by staff holding a steak knife.
Clare Nowland was tasered by police at an aged care home in Cooma. Picture: Supplied
The officer, NSW Police Senior Constable Kristian White, has been suspended with pay. Picture: Facebook
Police allege she was still armed with the knife when they arrived at the aged care facility.
After officers failed to get her to drop the knife, an experienced officer discharged a taser, allegedly causing Ms Nowland to fall and hit her head. She is now “in and out of consciousness”, with her family by her side in hospital while recieving end-of-life care.
Ms Nowland was approaching the officers at a “slow pace” while assisted by a walking frame when the taser was fired according to NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Peter Cotter
Mr White remains suspended with pay as investigations continue.
The Police Commissioner said that the charges come after a “proper investigation that is not prejudiced”.
“I’m confident that we have come to a position now, seven days later, that this matter is before the court without interference,” Ms Webb said.
She said bodycam footage of the incident alone did not lead to the charging of the officer, but rather “all the evidence”, including witness statements and expert testimony.
Ms Webb said on Wednesday that she had not watched the body-camera footage of the incident but had “heard what‘s in the footage”.
“I am concerned about what that will reveal and that will be brought out in court, like any other matter,” she said.
Known as an avid church-goer and dare devil, Clare Nowland skydived to celebrate her 80th birthday in 2008 – Photo: ABC News.
The homicide squad were brought into assist the inquiry which was labelled as a “critical incident” due to the nature of Ms Nowland’s injuries.
Her family have thanked the public for their support and described the ordeal as a “worrying and distressing time”.
“Well respected, much loved and a giving member of her local community, Clare is the loving and gentle-natured matriarch of the Nowland family,” the statement said.
NSW Police have come under heavy scrutiny in the wake of the incident, with Ms Webb saying that it’s not yet known why the confrontation was handled in that way by officers.
“We don’t know why the aged-care facility called police in the first place,” she said on the Today Show.
“Police officers are trained in a number of tactical options to use the least amount of force.
“Until we actually understand why, we won’t really know.”
Ms Webb added on Wednesday night that the incident had been an ordeal for NSW Police.
“Of course this has been traumatic for everyone in the police force and this is one matter while the rest of the police force continues to do their job 24/7 to protect and look after the citizens in NSW.”
More to come.