Officer who Tasered 95-year-old guilty of manslaughter

Kristian White, a 34-year-old senior constable with the New South Wales police, was found guilty of manslaughter for using a taser on 95-year-old care home resident Clare Nowland in May 2023. The incident occurred at a care home in Cooma, where White was called to assist after reports of Nowland behaving erratically due to dementia. White argued that his use of force was reasonable and proportionate to the threat posed by Nowland, who was found alone in a treatment room with a serrated-edge steak knife. However, prosecutors contended that Nowland was not a danger and that White had neglected his duty of care to her. As a result, White faces up to 25 years in prison, with sentencing expected as early as this week. The jury deliberated for just over three days before returning a guilty verdict on one charge of manslaughter.