Family of grandmother who died after allegedly being tasered by police sues the NSW government
- Family of Clare Nowland to sue the NSW government
- The 95-year-old was allegedly Tasered by police officer
The family of 95-year-old Clare Nowland who died after being Tasered by police in her old age home is suing the New South Wales government over the incident.
The case appeared for the first time before a NSW court on Tuesday morning and is currently listed as being brought by the 95-year-old herself.
The Bega registry adjourned the case before without it appearing before a district court judge for six weeks, with the matter to return to court on August 22.
It’s understood that civil proceedings against the NSW government were lodged while Mrs Nowland was fighting for life at Cooma Base Hospital earlier this year.
The great-grandmother was allegedly Tasered by senior constable Kristian White, 33, at the Yallambee Lodge, in southern NSW, on May 17.
Mrs Nowland died a week later from injuries suffered when she fell and hit her head.
Senior Constable White (pictured last week) has been charged with recklessly causing grievous bodily harm, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and common assault
Clare Nowland (pictured), a dementia sufferer who weighed just 43kg, died in Cooma Hospital in southern NSW, a week after she was allegedly Tasered by a senior constable
The dementia sufferer, who weighed just 43kg, was holding a steak knife and ‘slowly’ approaching police in her walking frame when she was Tasered.
Snr Constable White has been charged with recklessly causing grievous bodily harm, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and common assault.
White appeared before Cooma Court Local Court via video link on July 5. A plea has not been entered on any of the charges.
The most serious of the charges he faces, recklessly causing grievous bodily harm, carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.
Senior Constable Kristian White appeared before Cooma Local Court (pictured) via video link on July 5 over the tasering of great-grandmother Clare Nowland
The 33-year-old was suspended from NSW Police with pay following the incident.
Mrs Nowland was farewelled at St Patrick’s Catholic Church in Cooma on June 13, where she had been a regular parishioner and pastoral aide.
The celebration acknowledged Ms Nowland’s long life of helping others, her love for her large family and her faith.
NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Peter Cotter has described bodycam footage of the Tasering as ‘confronting’, while Commissioner Karen Webb has declined to watch it as police investigate the incident.
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