Clare Nowland’s granddaughter, Kylie Paske (above), posted a tribute to her grandmother on Facebook
Clare Nowland’s self-proclaimed ‘favourite’ granddaughter has broken the family’s silence with a defiant social media post asking ‘how dare’ the police ‘Taser my nana’.
Ms Nowland, 95, died in hospital around 7pm on Wednesday, surrounded by family, more than a week after being tasered by an officer at a nursing home in Cooma in southern NSW.
The demented man was tasered by Senior Constable Kristian White after she refused to drop a serrated steak knife while moving slowly in her walker at Yallambee Lodge around 4am on May 17.
She suffered severe head injuries including bleeding into the brain after falling to the floor and spent a week in end-of-life care.
Senior Constable White was charged with recklessly causing grievous bodily harm, assault involving actual bodily harm and common assault shortly before Mrs Nowland died.
Mrs. Paske was the first family member to speak out publicly about her grandmother on Tuesday evening.
She used the hashtags #policetaseredmynana and #howdarethey, alongside a post accompanying a photo of a bunch of flowers sent by a friend to “share her love, friendship and concern for my beautiful Nana.”
Ms Nowland’s great-granddaughter, Jaimie Lloyd (above), emerged from Cooma District Hospital in tears on Tuesday as dozens of family members descended on the facility where the family’s matriarch died Wednesday night
Granddaughter Kylie Paske added the hashtags #policetaseredmynana and #howdarethey to a Facebook post accompanying a photo of a bouquet of flowers sent by a friend to “share her love, friendship and concern for my beautiful Nana”
Ms. Paske, from Cooma, is a horse enthusiast and campaigner for the protection of the Brumby people of the Snowy Mountains.
Like the rest of Mrs. Nowland’s large family, she had remained silent until late Tuesday, except for a formal statement requesting privacy.
Ms Nowland’s great-granddaughter, Jaimie Lloyd, was one of many family members who came out of Cooma District Hospital in tears this week, as dozens of family members entered the hospital.
Daily Mail Australia has learned that relatives rushed to hospital around 5pm on Monday fearing Ms Nowland’s condition was deteriorating. Police remained there until about 11 p.m.
The previous day, a priest held a bedside Catholic mass for the lifelong churchgoer and St. Vincent de Paul volunteer.
Ms Nowland was tasered by Senior Constable Kristian White while moving slowly in her walker at Yallambee Lodge in the NSW Snowy Mountains after failing to drop a knife she was holding, police say
Relatives Andrew Nowland (second from right) and Kym Lloyd (far right) were among more than 20 family and friends, some with flowers, who visited the hospital this week
Relatives Andrew Nowland and Bede Nowland were among more than 20 family and friends, some with flowers, who visited the hospital before Ms Nowland’s death.
Guards had been posted at the doors, and a police presence in the form of Monaro Area Commander Superintendent John Klepczarek waited outside Mrs. Nowland’s room.
Chief Inspector Klepczarek told Daily Mail Australia on Tuesday ‘we are here for the family every day’.
Police confirmed Ms Nowland’s death in a statement on Wednesday night.
‘It is with great sadness that we confirm tonight the passing of 95-year-old Clare Nowland in Cooma,” the statement read.
“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.”
Mrs. Nowland’s family had one statement on Tuesday describing her as their “loving and gentle matriarch.”
Police Chief Monaro, Superintendent John Klepczarek (above) and another senior constable entered the hospital on Tuesday, shortly after police confirmed that Senior Constable White had been suspended on pay following the incident
The statement said the family would like to “express our deep love and affection for our Mother, Nana and Great Grandmother” and thanked “Cooma, the wider region, in fact the entire country and the world for the outpouring of support for her.” ‘.
Superintendent Klepczarek and another senior constable entered the hospital on Tuesday, shortly after police confirmed that Senior Constable White had been suspended with pay following the incident.
Senior Constable White, a former firefighter and police officer with 12 years of experience, had worked in the Monaro command for at least three years conducting domestic violence and other crime investigations.
Daily Mail Australia understands that NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb visited the Nowland family last Friday after arriving by privately chartered Pelican jet.
Executives from Network Nine’s Sixty Minutes and A Current Affair and Network Seven’s Spotlight have been in Cooma and reportedly talked to some members of Ms Nowland’s family about getting an exclusive TV interview.
Senior Constable White (above) is reported to be 188cm (6’2″) tall and weigh approximately 140kg, more than three times the 43kg height of Clare Nowland, who is 157cm (5’2″) tall