Three chilling words of police officer before he Tasered nan, 95, who later died

26 May 2023 , 13:24

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Clare Nowland, a dementia patient, was tasered by police at Yallambee Lodge near Cooma

The words of the police officer who tasered a 95-year-old grandma, who later died, in her care home in Australia have been revealed.

Senior Constable Kristian White, 33, has been given three charges including recklessly causing grievous bodily harm, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and common assault against dementia sufferer Clare Nowland.

The charges are likely to be upgraded following her death.

"It would more likely be manslaughter. It could be murder", a senior counsel said.

Since her tragic death, more details have emerged from the night in question where White tasered Nowland after she was found holding a knife at Yallambee Lodge, in southern New South Wales.

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Nowland aged 80 doing a sky dive (AP)

Staff at the lodge called for help after they saw her holding a steak knife. Her family later said she may have been buttering toast.

Police and ambulance both attended, with Constable White reportedly donning slash-proof gloves for the encounter.

The great-grandmother then "slowly" approached the officers, using her walker while holding the serrated blade in her right hand.

A female officer accompanying White then said: "I can take it [the knife] off her", the Telegraph reported.

After sparking the Taser failed to stop the 6.7 stone woman White reacted and allegedly said: "No, bugger it."

He then fired the Taser again, causing her to fall backwards, hitting her head and fracturing her skull.

White then said: "Got her, grab it."

Body-cam footage captured the whole ordeal, but police say they will not release it as it forms a crucial part of their investigation.

It is understood the unnamed female officer will not be charged but may face disciplinary action.

Speaking at a news conference before Ms Nowland’s death, Police Commissioner Karen Webb said that the episode had also been “traumatic” for other officers.

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She continued: "The community of New South Wales have trust in their police force. This is one incident out of many, many calls for service, out of two million calls for service every year that we respond to, for all sorts of things."

The mood in the small town is reportedly very sombre, with many outraged at the use of force on the small elderly woman.

Official guidelines for the New South Wales police say that stun guns should not be used on older or disabled people “unless exceptional circumstances exist.”

Rachel Hagan