Kristian White: NSW Police officer found guilty of manslaughter for tasering 95yo Clare Nowland sacked
Kristian White, the NSW Police officer found guilty of manslaughter after he tasered a 95-year-old woman in a nursing home, has been sacked.
Police Commissioner Karen Webb released a statement on Tuesday confirming the decision after White was convicted of the unlawful killing of Clare Nowland.
“I have determined that I do not have confidence in the officer’s suitability to continue as a police officer, in line with the procedure mandated under the Police Act 1990 section 181D,” Ms Webb said.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.“Accordingly, I have removed him from the NSW Police Force and he has been advised via his legal counsel.”
Ms Webb said she had also informed Mrs Nowland’s family.
Police and paramedics were called to the Yallambee Lodge aged-care home in the southern NSW town of Cooma in the early hours of May 17, 2023.
Mrs Nowland, a great-grandmother, had threatened staff and residents with two steak knives, throwing one at a carer.
White pulled the Taser’s trigger after only three minutes of negotiations to get her to put down the remaining knife.
He was heard in video footage played at his trial saying “nah, bugger it” before shooting Mrs Nowland in the torso.
She hit her head on the floor as she fell and died at Cooma Hospital a week later.
A jury unanimously found White guilty of manslaughter on Wednesday, and he was told he would be allowed to spend the next two months at home before being sentenced in February.
Mrs Nowland’s family hit out at that decision at the time.
“The Nowland family are disappointed that the court has today refused to place Kristian White into detention after the jury found him guilty of Clare’s manslaughter earlier this week,” they said in a statement.
“The family is struggling to understand why the court felt it was appropriate to leave Mr White on bail and free in the Cooma community without any real restrictions in light of that conviction.”
White said in a statement following the verdict that he “never intended” for Mrs Nowland to be harmed or injured.
“(White) has never lost sight of the fact that Mrs Nowland passed away and he is acutely aware that the Nowland family is deeply hurt by what happened,” the statement said.
He will be sentenced on February 7.
