A policeman guilty of unintentional manslaughter after shocking a 95-year-old woman with a stun gun

An Australian policeman who attacked a 95-year-old nursing home resident with a stun gun was found guilty of manslaughter on Wednesday.

Clare Nowland, a great-grandmother who suffers from dementia and uses a walker, refused to put down the steak knife she was holding when Kristian James Samuel White fired a stun gun at her in May 2023.

Mrs Nowland collapsed after White shocked her and died a week later in hospital.

Police said at the time that Ms Nowland suffered fatal injuries from hitting her head on the floor, and not as a direct result of the debilitating electric shock.

But after an eight-day trial, the jury rejected arguments by White’s lawyers that his use of a stun gun was a proportionate response to the threat posed by Ms Nowland.

The prosecutor argued that White’s use of a stun gun was “completely unnecessary and clearly excessive,” local news outlets reported.

White, who is out on bail, was found guilty of manslaughter and could receive up to 25 years in prison when he is later sentenced.

New South Wales Police Commissioner Karen Webb told reporters after the verdict that his employment was under review and subject to legal processes.

“The court found that Claire Nowland died as a result of the actions of a police officer. This should never have happened,” Ms Webb said, offering her “deepest condolences” to Ms Nowland’s family.

She added that state police reviewed their Taser policies and training in January and made no changes to them.

Ms Nowland left behind eight children, 24 grandchildren and 31 great-grandchildren, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation said.

Follow STV News on WhatsApp

Scan the QR code on your mobile device to get the latest news from around the country