The link between Cooma taser scandal, Bruce Lehrmann’s defamation trial and Taylor Auerbach

If a 95-year-old woman had never been tasered in a Cooma nursing home last May, Bruce Lehrmann’s defamation trial may never have reopened this week. This is why.

Police Commissioner Karen Webb, left, and her almost-spin doctor, Steve Jackson. Pictures: News Corp/Supplied

The decision to reopen Bruce Lehrmann’s defamation trial at the 11th hour can be traced back to what allegedly happened between a police officer and an elderly lady in a Cooma nursing home last year.

It was the early hours of May 17, 2023, when police were called to deal with a situation that saw 95-year-old great-grandmother Clare Nowland arm herself with a knife.

Police officer Kristian White allegedly dealt with the scenario by discharging his taser, causing the elderly woman to fall backwards and hit her head – suffering injuries she never recovered from.

White was suspended from the force with pay, but is now awaiting trial on a manslaughter charge.

So how does this link back to Bruce Lehrmann’s defamation case and the intertwined, often hard to follow, back and forth accusations between he, Brittany Higgins and TV star Lisa Wilkinson?

The decision to reopen Bruce Lehrmann’s defamation trial is the latest domino to fall in the wake of Clare Nowland’s death at a Cooma nursing home last May.

Mrs Nowland’s death has seen NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb come under fire ever since. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Nikki Short

Well, as a meme known to be circulating among staffers at NSW state parliament details, it was the first domino to fall.

The Cooma incident was the first media issue of Commissioner Webb’s tenure in the top job.

The problem began when an initial press release failed to mention the use of a “taser” and was worsened by Commissioner Webb’s own media performance in the wake of the scandal.

The state’s first female top cop’s image in the media came into question again recently after her handling of the alleged double murder of Jesse Baird and Luke Davies by serving police officer Beau Lamarre-Condon.

Following that media debacle, Commissioner Webb fired her chief spin doctor, Liz Deegan.

To replace Ms Deegan, the commissioner – on the advice of members of Police Minister Yasmin Catley’s office – hired veteran journalist Steve Jackson.

Before accepting the job Mr Jackson had worked on Channel 7’s Spotlight, where among other things he was involved in their tell-all interview with Bruce Lehrmann.

Mr Jackson’s time as Commissioner Webb’s media adviser did not last long, coming to an end before he could ever set foot in the Elizabeth St head office for his first day.

Police officer Kristian White is charged with manslaughter over the 95-year-old’s death. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Paul McIver

Police Minister Yasmin Catley is another domino, who has found herself coming under criticism recently over the appointment of Steve Jackson as Commissioner Webb’s media aide at the suggestion of staff in her office, who are his friends. Picture: NCA NewsWire/ Gaye Gerard

Veteran journalist Mr Jackson had his employment “ceased” before he could even start in the job working for Commissioner Webb.

That was due, in part, to a week-and-a-half of hysteria over his appointment – which included revelations about the work done by the Spotlight team to convince Lehrmann to talk to the show.

That included Taylor Auerbach, a former Spotlight producer, spending time with Lehrmann playing golf and visiting a Thai massage parlour together.

There is no suggestion Mr Jackson did not merit being appointed as the Commissioner’s media adviser or engaged in any wrongdoing.

Mr Auerbach is a former colleague and close friend of Mr Jackson, but that relationship has since soured, reportedly leading to Auerbach backgrounding against the veteran journalist in the wake of him being announced as Commissioner Webb’s aide.

Taylor Auerbach on Wednesda. Picture: NCA NewsWire / John Appleyard

When Lehrmann called suggestions he had visited a massage parlour “an untrue and bizarre story from a disgruntled ex-Network Seven producer”, Mr Auerbach took umbridge and now he is going to potentially be a key, 11th-hour witness in the defamation trial.

Justice Michael Lee was due to deliver his judgment in the matter on Thursday.

Now, Mr Auerbach will instead take the stand, with the scandalous contents of a 2000-page affidavit leaving Lehrmann and Channel 7 executives very nervous.

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