NSW Police officer Kristian White stood down over tasering of Clare Nowland in Cooma nursing home

An employee of the aged care home where a 95-year-old dementia patient was tasered last week received a death threat after the incident, the police minister has said. It comes as the officer who allegedly triggered the taser was suspended with full pay.

• Minns to block dementia probe in wake of Taser outrage

Comments made by a police officer in the moments before he fired his taser at a great-grandmother in a Cooma nursing home are set to form a crucial part of the investigation into his conduct.

Senior Constable Kristian White has been suspended on full pay from the NSW Police Force while a team of detectives investigate what transpired when he found himself opposite 95-year-old Clare Nowland, who was standing at her walking frame with a knife in the dementia ward of Yallambie Lodge nursing home last Wednesday.

Snr Const White allegedly discharged his weapon, causing Mrs Nowland to fall to the floor and hit her head, suffering injuries that have left her receiving “end of life care” in Cooma Hospital surrounded by family.

Several police sources have told The Daily Telegraph the comments made by Snr Const White in the moments before he opened fire will be key to the investigation being led by the State Crime Command‘s Homicide Squad.

Snr Const White joined the force more than a decade ago and his work had been featured on the Monaro Police District Facebook page over the years.

Senior Constable Kristian White has been stood down, pending an investigation, over the incident at Yallambie Lodge last week. Picture: NSW Police Facebook

Clare Nowland is receiving end of life care after allegedly being tasered by police at an aged care home in Cooma (she is pictured in 2008). Picture: ABC News.

Police sources warned an outcome and any charges could yet be weeks away, with a crucial report from the Weapons Training Unit expected to take up to a fortnight.

On Tuesday, NSW Police Minister Yasmin Catley told parliament an employee of Yallambee Lodge had received a death threat as a result of the tasering incident.

Speaking about the incident for the first time, Ms Catley said she had spoken with Ms Nowland’s family.

“They are of course in a terrible state,” she said.

“It’s critically important we let the investigation play its course.”

Ms Catley refused to say whether she had watched the body cam footage of the incident.

NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb has defended her decision not to watch body-worn footage of the incident, saying she needed to follow the appropriate process. Picture: NewsWire/ Monique Harmer

NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb defended the fact she had not watched the footage on Monday morning, saying that doing so could “taint” a decision she may be required to make about Snr Const White‘s employment.

“In the end I might (watch it) but I need to have it in the context of all the other statements and evidence and I’m waiting for that to occur,” Commissioner Webb told Ben Fordham on 2GB.

“It’s important that we follow a process – I’ve said that from the beginning and it’s going to take time.

“I don’t want it to taint the rest of the investigation and when I see the whole investigation I will make my determination impartially.”

Mrs Nowland’s family have been by her bedside in Cooma Hospital since last Wednesday. Picture: Supplied

Senior police sources said they agreed with Commissioner Webb that she could not watch the video as she was the “final arbiter”.

“I’m sure she has been briefed on what is in the video, but the trouble is she is the final arbiter,” the source said.

“She wants to make sure she gets it right.

“The thing is that this could take weeks to investigate because the Weapons Training Unit has to be involved to assess the officer’s conduct and use of their weapon, and they could take up to two weeks to provide a report.”

The Daily Telegraph last week revealed key details about the incident involving Mrs Nowland, including that she had been tasered while standing at her walking frame carrying a knife in the dementia ward.

The initial police media release stated simply Mrs Nowland had received injuries during an “interaction” without mentioning the use of a taser.

That is despite many other media releases by NSW Police detailing where officers have discharged their tasers, including the fact.

CRIM CITY PODCAST

Commissioner Webb defended that decision on Monday, saying they simply wanted to ensure Mrs Nowland’s large family were the first to know the “circumstances” first.

“Early in the investigation it was necessary to us that the family were aware of what the circumstances were,” she said.

“We didn’t want that family to hear on the radio or TV what had happened to their mum. So we had to be a bit sensitive to that.

“We all want answers … it’s appropriate that we think about and respect that family.”