Officer on Trial for Tasering Death of 95-Year-Old

Kristian White faces manslaughter charges after Clare Nowland died following a taser incident in a nursing home.

Senior Constable Kristian White is on trial for the manslaughter of Clare Nowland, a 95-year-old woman who died after being tasered.
Nowland, who had dementia, was holding a steak knife and using a walking frame when the incident occurred in May 2023.
White's defense argues the taser use was a reasonable response to the threat posed by Nowland, despite her age and condition.
Training expert William Watt testified that officers are generally advised against using tasers on elderly individuals but acknowledged the complexities when knives are involved.
The trial highlights the challenges police face in evaluating appropriate use of force, particularly with vulnerable individuals like Nowland.