In a gripping court case that has captured the nation’s attention, a police officer who tasered a 95-year-old woman, resulting in her death, has taken the stand to defend his actions. Sen Const Kristian James Samuel White, charged with manslaughter, told the NSW Supreme Court that his job was to “maintain the peace” when he encountered Clare Nowland, who was armed with a serrated knife at her Cooma nursing home in May 2023.
White’s testimony has ignited a fierce debate about the use of force by police, particularly when dealing with vulnerable individuals like the elderly. The case has raised difficult questions about the line between maintaining order and using excessive force, and the tragic consequences that can result when that line is crossed.
The Incident at Yallambee Lodge
The events that led to this courtroom drama began in the early hours of May 17, when White and his partner, Sgt Jess Pank, were called to the Yallambee Lodge nursing home. Nowland, who weighed just 47.5kgs and had displayed symptoms consistent with dementia, had been walking around the facility armed with a knife, disturbing patients and posing a risk to staff.
Despite repeated instructions to put down the knife, Nowland did not comply. After several hours, staff called for an ambulance and police. When Nowland was found in a nurses’ office, White told the court he gave her repeated verbal instructions to “put down the knife.” But Nowland, he said, appeared not to understand the command and walked towards the officers with the knife raised.
“She looked right through us,”
– Sen Const Kristian James Samuel White
The Decision to Deploy the Taser
Faced with what he perceived as an imminent threat, White warned Nowland, “you’re going to get tased,” before discharging his taser at her. The 95-year-old fell backwards, striking her head, and died a week later from inoperable bleeding on the brain.
In his testimony, White acknowledged considering the risks of tasering Nowland given her age and frailty. However, he said his previous experiences with the device led him to believe it would not cause serious injury. “I didn’t think she’d be significantly injured,” he told the court, expressing devastation at the tragic outcome.
“I accept tasers cause an injury, but I’ve never seen it cause a serious injury.”
– Sen Const Kristian James Samuel White
Maintaining the Peace or Excessive Force?
Under cross-examination, the prosecution challenged White’s assertion that Nowland posed an immediate risk, suggesting he could have avoided any potential stabbing by simply stepping away. White maintained that a stabbing was “pretty imminent” and that letting Nowland wander the corridors with a knife would have been a “breach of the peace” he was duty-bound to prevent.
At the heart of this case lies the question of whether White’s use of the taser was a reasonable and proportionate response to the situation, or an excessive use of force. The defence argues that White acted in good faith to maintain order and protect those present, while the prosecution contends that he had other options available and should have shown greater restraint given Nowland’s age and condition.
A Tragedy with No Winners
Regardless of the trial’s outcome, the death of Clare Nowland is an undeniable tragedy. A vulnerable elderly woman’s life was cut short in a confrontation with those meant to protect and serve. For her family, there can be no true justice, only the hope that her death will spark a broader conversation about how we as a society treat our most vulnerable members and the limits we place on the use of force by those in authority.
As the trial continues and more evidence comes to light, the public will be left to grapple with the complex issues this case raises. How do we balance the need for safety and order with the rights and dignity of individuals, particularly those who may not fully understand or be able to comply with police commands? What level of force is acceptable when dealing with the elderly, the infirm, or those with cognitive impairments?
These are not easy questions, but they are ones we must confront if we are to build a society that truly protects and values all its members. The tragic death of Clare Nowland should serve as a wake-up call, spurring us to re-examine our policies, training, and attitudes around the use of force and the treatment of vulnerable populations.
In the end, there can be no winners in a case like this. A life has been lost, a family is grieving, and a police officer’s actions will be judged in the harsh light of hindsight. But if Clare Nowland’s death can serve as a catalyst for change, a spark that ignites a national conversation about how we can do better, then perhaps some small measure of meaning can be found in this senseless tragedy.
As the trial of Sen Const Kristian James Samuel White continues, the nation will be watching closely, hoping for answers, accountability, and, above all, a way forward that ensures such a tragedy never happens again.
