Death of Clare Nowland

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.[1] She died on 24 May. The officer who fired the Taser has been suspended and charged with a number of offences.[2]

Not to be confused with Raymond Clare Nowland.

Death of Clare Nowland
Date17 May 2023 (2023-05-17)
LocationCooma, New South Wales
TypeTasering
Deaths1
AccusedSen Con Kristian White
ChargesRecklessly causing grievous bodily harm; assault occasioning actual bodily harm; common assault

Participants

Clare Nowland

Nowland was a 95-year-old resident at an aged care home in Cooma. She had dementia and used a walker.[3] Nowland was known for skydiving to celebrate her 80th birthday.[4]

Kristian White

White was a 33-year-old senior constable with 12 years' experience at the time of the incident.[5]

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.[6] 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 4 am, 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.[6] 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.[7] White fired his Taser twice, hitting Nowland in the back and the chest. Nowland fell, fracturing her skull.[8][9][10] She was taken to Cooma District Hospital where she was given end-of-life care.[11] She died on 24 May.[1]

Aftermath

On 23 May, White was suspended from duty.[12] 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.[13] 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.[14]

On 27 May, a small group of protestors marched on NSW Police headquarters in Parramatta.[15]

Nowland's funeral was held in Cooma on 13 June 2023.[16]

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.[17]

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.[18]

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.[19] The matter has been adjourned until late August.[20]

References
  1. Goodwin, Sean Tarek; Taouk, Maryanne (18 May 2023). "'Not above the law': Police commissioner pledges robust review into elderly taser incident". ABC News. Retrieved 25 May 2023.
  2. "95-year-old woman Tasered by police in Australia dies". BBC News. 24 May 2023. Retrieved 25 May 2023.
  3. Thompson, Angus (19 May 2023). "Volunteer, thrill-seeker and very 'good golf player': Clare Nowland is revered". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 25 May 2023.
  4. Great-grandmother skydives on 80th birthday, retrieved 25 May 2023
  5. Ireland, Perry Duffin, Olivia (22 May 2023). "NSW Police officer who Tasered 95-year-old once detained and recorded a man illegally: court". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 25 May 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  6. McPhee, Perry Duffin, Sarah (25 May 2023). "Officer who Tasered Nowland 'very distressed', will fight case: lawyer". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 25 May 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  7. "Lawyer says NSW cop who tasered great-grandmother 'must be charged with murder'". 7NEWS. 26 May 2023. Retrieved 26 May 2023.
  8. Duffin, Olivia Ireland, Jenny Noyes, Perry (19 May 2023). "Body-cam footage captured 'confronting' moment grandmother, 95, was Tasered". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 25 May 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  9. Ward, Laura Chung, Mary (20 May 2023). "'We all want to know why': Critical days to come for grandmother after being Tasered by police". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 25 May 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  10. View, The Herald's (19 May 2023). "Taser tragedy cause for disbelief and disquiet". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 25 May 2023.
  11. Knaus, Christopher (22 May 2023). "Clare Nowland: aged care resident Tasered by police remains in 'heavy sleep' amid end-of-life care". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 25 May 2023.
  12. Ireland, Olivia (23 May 2023). "Senior constable who Tasered Clare Nowland suspended". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 25 May 2023.
  13. Keoghan, Perry Duffin, Sarah (24 May 2023). "Clare Nowland dies in hospital after police officer charged with Tasering her". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 25 May 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  14. "Cop charges could be upgraded after 95-year-old's death". The Canberra Times. 25 May 2023. Retrieved 25 May 2023.
  15. "Protesters call for commissioner's resignation over great-grandmother's death". news.com.au. 27 May 2023. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
  16. Thompson, Angus (13 June 2023). "Taser victim Clare Nowland farewelled by hundreds in Cooma". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
  17. McGowan, Olivia Ireland, Michael (21 June 2023). "Top NSW cops covered up Tasering of Clare Nowland". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 21 June 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  18. Thompson, Angus (5 July 2023). "'Who runs the court?' Magistrate blasts prosecutors over Taser officer's video appearance". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
  19. Mitchell, Georgina (18 July 2023). "New bail conditions imposed on police officer accused of Tasering grandmother". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
  20. "Family of great-grandmother who died after allegedly being tasered by police sues NSW". 11 July 2023 – via www.abc.net.au.
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