An Australian police officer, Kristian White, was found guilty of manslaughter in the death of a 95-year-old care home resident, Clare Nowland, whom he fatally shocked with a Taser gun. White was called to the care home in Cooma, where Nowland, who suffered from symptoms of dementia, was acting erratically while holding a steak knife. The incident occurred in May 2023, and Nowland later died in the hospital. The jury deliberated for nearly a week before reaching a verdict.
White now faces a potential sentence of up to 25 years in prison for manslaughter in the state of New South Wales, where the incident took place. The State Police Commissioner Karen Webb stated that the force is reviewing White’s employment after his conviction and reiterated that the policy and training regarding the use of Tasers are appropriate.
This case has sparked outrage in Australia and has drawn attention to police tactics and use of force in the country. In a separate incident, a police officer in the same state was found guilty of assault involving a 16-year-old Indigenous boy in 2020. Additionally, the state’s police force is facing lawsuits from hundreds of music fans who claim they were illegally strip-searched by police officers at music festivals from 2016 to 2022. These incidents highlight the need for greater accountability and scrutiny of police actions in Australia.
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