Policeman who Tasered grandmother could be charged with murder – as his father cuts forlorn figure
The police officer who tasered a 95-year-old great-grandmother may have the charges against him upgraded to murder following her death on Wednesday night, a senior lawyer has revealed.
Clare Nowland, a dementia sufferer who weighed just 43kg, died at around 7pm on Wednesday at Cooma Hospital in southern NSW, surrounded by her family.
The great-grandmother was tasered on May 17 by Senior Constable Kristian White, 33, at Yallambee Lodge retirement home in southern NSW, suffering a cerebral hemorrhage in the incident.
White was charged with recklessly inflicting grievous bodily harm, assault with actual bodily harm, and common assault on Wednesday night.
Hours later, Ms Nowland’s death was announced, prompting a leading Sydney lawyer with decades of experience in the criminal justice system to suggest that White’s charges could be upgraded to manslaughter or murder.
Meanwhile, in the Sydney suburb of Heathcote, 380 km north of Cooma, White’s firefighter father Keith made a lost figure at his childhood home.
Clare Nowland (pictured), a dementia sufferer who weighed just 43kg, died at Cooma Hospital in southern NSW around 7pm on Wednesday, a week after being tasered by a police officer
Senior Constable Kristian White (pictured left) has been charged with recklessly inflicting grievous bodily harm, assault with actual bodily harm and common assault
Keith and his wife Heather live in Heathcote, Sutherland shire and are heavily involved in the national fire service.
The elder Mr. White has been treasurer of the brigade since 1990 and is the lead trainer and assessor in the Sutherland Rural Fire Service.
Kristian’s sister Mikaela works as a sports activities specialist at a private boys’ school in Sydney’s inner west.
The family bunkered down after the incident and refused to answer questions when approached by Daily Mail Australia.
Now a senior counsel has told Daily Mail Australia White’s charges could be upgraded following Ms Nowland’s death.
“It would be more like manslaughter,” the senior counsel explained. “But it will be upgraded.
‘It could be murder. Murder requires intent to inflict grievous bodily harm.”
The lawyer said a murder charge could be brought if it can be proven that the officer showed “reckless disregard for human life.”
“It would require foresight on the likelihood of death as a result of the act,” the side said. ‘This is indeed an ideal suitcase for that.’
In Heathcote, a Sydney suburb 380 km north of Cooma, White’s father firefighter Keith (pictured) made a lost figure in his childhood home
The photo shows Kristian White’s childhood home in Cooma, a Sydney suburb
Ms Nowland was confronted by White at the retirement home last week.
She had been holding a steak knife and using a walker when White tasered her.
Ms Nowland fell backwards, suffered a cerebral haemorrhage and was taken to hospital for end-of-life care.
After White was indicted on Wednesday, Commissioner Webb addressed the media.
“This matter is now in court and there is little more I can say about it except that the Nowland family has been made aware of this development,” she said.
Commissioner Webb added that her “thoughts and prayers are with Mrs. Nowland and her family tonight.”
White is due to appear in Cooma local court on Wednesday, July 5, 2023. Among the charges brought against him, reckless infliction of grievous bodily harm carries a prison sentence of up to 10 years.
Assault involving actual bodily harm carries a prison sentence of up to seven years, while a conviction for common assault can lead to up to two years behind bars.
Police Commissioner Karen Webb (pictured) said her ‘thoughts and prayers are with Ms Nowland and her family tonight’
NSW Police Senior Constable Kristian White (pictured) has been suspended with pay
The officer remains suspended with pay.
Following Ms Nowland’s death, NSW Police issued a statement saying: ‘It is with great sadness that tonight (Wednesday 24 May 2023) we confirm the death of 95-year-old Clare Nowland in Cooma.
“Ms. Nowland passed away peacefully in hospital just after 7pm tonight, surrounded by family and loved ones who have asked for privacy at this sad and difficult time.
“Our thoughts and condolences remain with those who were fortunate enough to know, love and be loved by Ms. Nowland during a life she led marked by family, kindness and community.”
NSW Police Minister Yasmin Catley also offered her condolences.
‘On behalf of the NSW Government, I would like to express my sincere condolences to the Nowland family for the loss of their much-loved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, Clare Nowland.
“Our sympathies and thoughts also go out to the community of Cooma, Mrs. Nowland’s friends, as well as the residents and caretakers of Cooma Yallambee Lodge.
“We will continue to support the Nowland family as they mourn this loss and we urge people to respect their privacy at this time,” Ms Catley said.
Ms Nowland (pictured) died at Cooma District Hospital, southern NSW, after being tasered by an officer a week earlier
The Yallambee Lodge in South NSW where the Taser incident took place is pictured
Commissioner Webb said: “His employment will continue to be reviewed but at this time he is still suspended from the workplace”.
She added that the charges against White could be upgraded. ‘It is possible. It depends on what happens,” she said.
Despite international outcry over the incident, the Commissioner has refused to view bodycam footage of Ms Nowland being tasered.
She also refused to release the footage to the public, saying she is “concerned” that people want to see it.
The police chief said she may need to watch the video “as a decision maker in this organization… (but) I don’t see any value in watching that footage now that I don’t know… post that incident.”
When asked again on Wednesday evening why she would not release the footage of Ms. Nowland being tasered, she replied: “I am not the investigator.”
The investigation into the incident continues.