Tasered Cooma gran Clare Nowland dies; NSW Police officer Kristian White charged

Cooma great-grandmother Clare Nowland has died in hospital shortly after police announced the officer who allegedly tasered her had been charged.

Cooma great-grandmother Clare Nowland has passed away, one week after she was tasered by a NSW Police officer in her nursing home.

Relatives of the 95-year-old confirmed she had died on Wednesday night surrounded by family in Cooma Hospital.

Mrs Nowland’s family said her passing came just after detectives charged Senior Constable Kristian White with three offences in relation to the incident. He remains suspended on full pay.

NSW Police issued a statement on Wednesday night sharing the force’s “thoughts and condolences remain with those who were lucky enough to know, love, and be loved by Mrs Nowland during a life she led hallmarked by family, kindness and community.”

NSW Police Minister Yasmin Catley also offered “sincere condolences” to the Nowland family, as well as to her friends, the Cooma community and staff and residents at Cooma Yallambee Lodge where the now-fatal incident unfolded.

NSW Police officer Kristian White has been charged over the incident. Picture: 9NEWS

Clare Nowland has died in hospital after she was tasered by a police officer last week.

“We will continue to offer support to the Nowland family as they mourn this loss,” Ms Catley said.

Snr Const White, 33, was issued a future court attendance notice on Wednesday night for recklessly causing grievous bodily harm, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and common assault over the incident in Cooma on May 17.

The charges come as it was revealed body camera footage of the incident shows great-grandmother Clare Nowland slowly getting out of a chair “as if in slow motion” and advancing on a NSW Police Officer before he allegedly exclaims in exasperation and tasers her.

The detail of what allegedly happened comes as police sources confirmed taser wielding officer Snr Const White has been investigated in the past for claims of excessive use of force.

NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb spoke to the media on Wednesday night. Picture: Adam Yip

NSW Police officer Kristian White has been charged with three offences.

On Wednesday night Commissioner of Police Karen Webb thanked the detectives who she said had “worked around the clock” to investigate and said the charges against Snr Const White could be upgraded depending on Mrs Nowland’s condition.

“I’ve said from the beginning and it’s important now that I remain the same, this is a proper process, to remain fair and to see that the investigation is not prejudiced, and I am confident that we have come to a position now seven days later that this matter is before the court without interference,” Commissioner Webb said.

“This has been traumatic for everyone in the police force.

“The community of NSW have trust in their police force … this is one incident out of over 2 million calls for assistance we get every year. I’m sure that the community can be reassured that NSW will carry on with the job that we always do.

“The Nowland family have been informed of this development and our prayers and thoughts are with Mrs Nowland.”

Deputy Commissioner Paul Pisanos at Sydney Police Centre in Surry Hills. Picture: Adam Yip

Deputy Commissioner Paul Pisanos admitted that it had been a tough week for the police force.

“It’s been a tough week … we’ve also had a lot of other business that we’ve had to attend to, but it has been a tough week,” he said.

“I think it’s just day by day, week by week, and you just continue to do the job that you do and I think it just has to happen gradually.

“A lot of things come out of a critical investigation, use of a taser how it’s used, that’s par for the course, it’s what we do and we’ll review what occurred.”

Crucial to that investigation will be bodycam footage from his police vest.

Clare Nowland’s family are now mourning her death following the incident. Picture: ABC News

The Daily Telegraph understands that footage shows the popular great grandmother sitting in a chair as ambulance officers move around the room at Yallambee Lodge in the Snowy Mountains after 4am on Wednesday.

Staff had called emergency services saying dementia sufferer Ms Nowland had been holding a steak knife and they needed assistance.

The incident occurred at Yallambee Lodge in Cooma. Picture: Sam Turner

Snr Constable White attended the aged care facility with a female colleague and was seen pulling on slash resistant gloves.

Bodycam footage is understood to show Ms Nowland very slowly getting out of her chair and, using her walker, begin to move towards the officer while holding the knife.

He can be clearly heard telling her to get back and allegedly turning on the taser as a warning before exclaiming in exasperation and firing the taser at the 43kg woman.

Ms Nowland fell back, knocking her head on the floor. The officer then tells the control room what has happened.

Commissioner Webb has refused requests to release the bodycam footage and said she will not view it herself until all evidence from the investigation has been put before her.

A NSW Police spokeswoman said: “As the investigation is ongoing it would be inappropriate to make any further comment until the investigation has been completed.”

That investigation will also be looking at Snr Constable White’s record. Several police sources, including former colleagues, with knowledge of Snr Constable White’s policing history have confirmed he had been investigated for claims of excessive use of force during interactions with the public on a prior occasion

The police spokeswoman said: “As part of the ongoing Critical Incident Investigation, a review of the officer’s internal complaint history is being conducted.”

Snr Const White will face Cooma Local Court on July 5.