On 17 May 2023, Clare Nowland, a 95-year-old resident with dementia, was tasered by New South Wales police at an aged care home in Cooma, Australia. She was hospitalized after she fell and fractured her skull when she received the Taser electric current. She died on 24 May. The officer who fired the Taser has been suspended and charged with a number of offences.
Participants
Clare Nowland
Nowland was a 95-year-old resident at an aged care home in Cooma. She had dementia and used a walker. Nowland was known for skydiving to celebrate her 80th birthday.
Kristian White
White was a 33-year-old senior constable with 12 years' experience at the time of the incident.
Incident
In the early hours of 17 May 2023, Nowland obtained a steak knife from the kitchen of the aged care home where she had lived for the previous five years. Staff were unable to retrieve the knife from her, and called the local police. Two officers, White and a female officer, arrived at the home about 4am, and found Nowland in her room. They called on her to drop the knife, but she walked slowly towards them with her walker, carrying and raising the knife. According to The Daily Telegraph, the female police officer allegedly said she could take the knife from Nowland. White allegedly said "no, bugger it" before firing his Taser. White fired his Taser twice, hitting Nowland in the back and the chest. Nowland fell, fracturing her skull. She was taken to Cooma District Hospital where she was given end-of-life care. She died on 24 May.
Aftermath
On 23 May, White was suspended from duty. On 24 May, hours before Nowland's death, he was charged with recklessly causing grievous bodily harm, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and common assault. Police commissioner Karen Webb said his charges could be upgraded due to Nowland's subsequent death, but as of July 2023, this has not yet occurred.
On 27 May, a small group of protestors marched on NSW Police headquarters in Parramatta.
Nowland's funeral was held in Cooma on 13 June 2023.
In June 2023, following a freedom of information request by The Sydney Morning Herald, it was discovered that NSW Police media had deliberately withheld advice to the public that a Taser had been used on Nowland.
Legal proceedings
White was due to appear in Cooma Local Court on 5 July 2023, with the court committing to considerable expense in arranging security for the appearance. Unbeknown to the magistrate hearing the matter, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions had allowed White to appear via video link, which angered the magistrate. The matter will return to court on 6 September 2023, which White has been excused from attending.
Nowland's family has lodged a civil lawsuit against the state of New South Wales seeking undisclosed damages for trespass to the person (assault and battery) and negligence. The matter has been adjourned until late August.