A Sydney jury has convicted a police officer of manslaughter in the death of a 95-year-old nursing home resident. The case that has sparked debate over police use of force and Taser protocols in New South Wales.
Kristian James Samuel White, 34, was found guilty Wednesday, Nov. 27, after a jury deliberated for 20 hours. White faces up to 25 years in prison and remains free on bail pending sentencing.
The incident occurred in May 2023 at Yallambee Lodge in Cooma, New South Wales. Clare Nowland, a great-grandmother with dementia, was holding a steak knife when officers arrived.
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According to evidence presented during the trial, White and another officer instructed Nowland 21 times to drop the knife. White then discharged his Taser, causing Nowland to fall backward and fatally strike her head. She died a week later in a hospital.
Video footage from the scene revealed White saying, “Nah, bugger it,” moments before firing the Taser. Prosecutors argued that White’s actions were excessive and unnecessary given Nowland’s physical condition, she weighed about 100 pounds and used a walker.
The jury rejected White’s defense that he was following training protocols, which advise treating any person holding a knife as a potential threat.
New South Wales Police Commissioner Karen Webb offered condolences to Nowland’s family after the verdict, stating, “This should never have happened.”
Webb confirmed that police had reviewed Taser policies earlier this year but made no changes to existing training or protocols.
Nowland, remembered as a devoted matriarch, is survived by eight children, 24 grandchildren, and 31 great-grandchildren.
The case has raised questions about accountability and the use of Tasers in law enforcement, drawing attention to the balance between public safety and the appropriate use of force. Sentencing is expected in the coming months.
