Latest news with #Nowland
Canberra Times
07-05-2025
- Canberra Times
Top cop quits force after headline-plagued tenure
A media release from her office in the wake of the tragic incident did not mention that a Taser was used and simply said Ms Nowland had "sustained injuries during an interaction with police".
The Guardian
03-04-2025
- The Guardian
NSW prosecutors appeal no-jail sentence for Kristian White over manslaughter of 95-year-old Clare Nowland
Prosecutors will appeal against a decision to not send the former police officer Kristian White to prison for the manslaughter of 95-year-old great-grandmother Clare Nowland after he fatally shot her with a Taser. 'After careful consideration of the judgment, the director has determined to file an appeal against the inadequacy of the sentence imposed in this matter,' a spokesperson for the New South Wales Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions said on Thursday. Justice Ian Harrison handed down his sentencing decision for the former police officer in the NSW supreme court on Friday, sentencing White to a two-year community corrections order. The conditions include 425 hours of community service and reporting to a community corrections officer. In his reasoning, Harrison said the incident fell 'in the lower end of objective seriousness' for manslaughter and that sentencing White to time in prison would be a 'disproportionate' sentence because White did not pose a risk or danger to the community. Sign up for the Afternoon Update: Election 2025 email newsletter He also noted that the offending occurred within the context of his duties as a police officer, and White's access to a Taser was part of that role, therefore the chance of him deploying a Taser in a similar circumstance was 'negligible, if not fanciful'. White lost his job as a police officer when he was convicted. In a letter read to the court last Friday, White said he was 'truly sorry' and took 'full responsibility' for his actions. 'I deeply regret my actions and the severe consequences they have caused,' he said. White was convicted of manslaughter last year over the death of Nowland, whom he shot with a Taser at an aged care home in the southern NSW town of Cooma in the early hours of 17 May 2023. White was called to the Yallambee Lodge home after Nowland, who was displaying symptoms of dementia, was found disoriented in the middle of the night, walking around the property carrying a serrated knife. Sign up to Afternoon Update: Election 2025 Our Australian afternoon update breaks down the key election campaign stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters after newsletter promotion Nowland, who was frail, weighed 47kg, and could only move slowly with the aid of a walker, was confronted by White, who ordered her to put the knife down. When Nowland did not comply White said 'nah, bugger it', and fired his Taser at her chest, causing her to fall heavily and hit her head. He fired his Taser within three minutes of seeing Nowland at the home, the court heard. Nowland died a week later in hospital after suffering inoperable bleeding in the brain. Nowland's son, Michael Nowland, called the sentence on Friday after it was determined White would avoid jail a 'a slap on the wrist for someone that's killed our mother'. Michael, after learning that White's sentence would be appealed, told Nine News in an interview that aired on Wednesday that all the family wants is 'justice'. During the same interview, Nowland's daughter, Leslie Lloyd, said: 'He has taken a life, there should be some consequences for that.'
Yahoo
29-03-2025
- Yahoo
Why killer cop not jailed for Taser death
A stunned silence was heard in a Supreme Court room as the family of an elderly woman, who was fatally tasered by a former NSW Police officer, were told the man who had killed their matriarch would not spend any time behind bars. Senior Constable Kristian White, 34, was found guilty in November of the manslaughter of Clare Nowland, 95, following a trial in the NSW Supreme Court. In NSW, manslaughter carries a maximum penalty of 25 years imprisonment. However, in the Supreme Court on Friday, White was sentenced to a two year community corrections order. Under the conditions, White is to perform 425 hours of community service and is not to commit any further offence. White had been called to Yallambee Lodge nursing home in Cooma before 5am on May 17, 2023 to assist with Mrs Nowland, whom a nurse described as a 'very aggressive' resident holding two knives. Mrs Nowland, who used a walking frame to move slowly around the home, was holding a single knife and a penlight when White found her sitting in an office after 5am. He repeatedly told her to drop the blade during a tense two-minute confrontation before he pointed his service Taser at the great-grandmother and activated the warning signals. The jury was told Mrs Nowland had undiagnosed dementia which made it difficult for her to follow directions. The Taser was pointed at her for a minute before White pulled the trigger. 'Nah … just bugger it,' White said before deploying the Taser probes at her chest. 'Got her.' Mrs Nowland fell backwards and struck her head on the floor. She died in hospital days later. After four days of deliberation, the jury unanimously found White guilty of manslaughter on November 27 last year. White was suspended with pay throughout the trial, but was removed from the NSW Police Force days after the verdict was handed down. White is challenging the decision. Prison a 'disproportionate' sentence While Mrs Nowland's eldest son Michael deemed the sentence as 'a slap on the wrist', Justice Ian Harrison said White had made 'a terrible mistake'. 'I am unable to conclude his actions were either gross or wicked,' he told the court on Friday morning. 'The simple but tragic fact is that Mr White completely and inexplicably misread and misunderstood the dynamics of the situation … and over-estimated both the existence and the level of the threat created by Mrs Nowland in the circumstances.' Of his decision, Justice Harrison added the incident fell within the lower end of objective seriousness for manslaughter and that time in prison would be a 'disproportionate' sentence. Justice Harrison said it was agreed upon that a custodial sentence for a former police officer and the likely conditions in jail would be 'unduly onerous', and could only be served in 'some form of protective isolation'. Moreover, he noted that White doesn't pose any risk or danger to the community, nor does he pose any risk of reoffending. 'Mr White submitted that his lack of criminal history and strong family support militate strongly in favour of a community based order to allow him to continue his road to rehabilitation,' Justice Harrison said. In NSW, intensive corrections orders – a sentence of imprisonment served in the community under strict supervision – are not available for serious offences such as manslaughter. Rather, Justice Harrison arrived at a community corrections order, which is typically deemed a more flexible sentencing option. 'A slap on the wrist' But while White is set to return to his Cooma home to serve his sentence, the Nowland family have repeatedly reminded the former cop he is no longer 'a welcome member' of their tight-knit community. On behalf of Mrs Nowland's family her eldest son Michael made an emotional admission to reporters following the sentencing. 'It's a slap on the wrist for someone that's killed our mother … I need time to process that,' he said on Friday. 'It's difficult for our family … we are very emotional and we all need time to process. Michael added his family does not accept White's letter of apology. The family previously told the court in a sentencing hearing they frequently suffered the cruel reality of running into White in the Cooma community while he was on bail. 'I will never forgive this officer for tasering and killing my mum,' Michael Nowland said. 'Mum did not deserve to have her life end in this manner … she was a caring and dignified lady, but she did not die with dignity.' Mrs Nowland is survived by eight children, 24 grandchildren and 30 great-grandchildren, many of whom attended the sentencing. In a letter read to the court on Friday, White said he is 'truly sorry' and takes 'full responsibility' for his actions. 'I deeply regret my actions and the severe consequences they have caused,' he said. White said there 'isn't a single day' that goes by in which he doesn't think about the day of the incident. 'I have lost the job and career I enjoyed immensely and dedicated myself to for over a decade,' he said. 'Police face difficult situations and are required to use judgment and if they make mistakes, they are expected to answer them which I believe I have.' White has not spent any time behind bars on remand since he was charged over the fatal confrontation.
CBS News
28-03-2025
- CBS News
Former Australian officer who killed 95-year-old woman with Taser avoids prison
Melbourne, Australia — A former Australian police officer avoided a prison term when sentenced Friday for killing a 95-year-old nursing home resident with a stun gun, an outcome that disappointed the victim's family. Kristian White was sentenced to 450 hours of community service and placed under the supervision of a corrections officer for two years for manslaughter. White "made by what any measure was a terrible mistake," Justice Ian Harrison said in the New South Wales state Supreme Court. Prosecutors had called for a prison term in the killing of Clare Nowland, a great-grandmother who suffered from dementia, but the judge said such a punishment was disproportionate. "It is ... at the lower end of seriousness of crimes amounting to wrongful death," Harrison said. A jury convicted White last year , and White was fired from the New South Wales police in December. White had faced a potential maximum sentence of 25 years in prison for manslaughter. Staff called police to a nursing home in Cooma on May 17, 2023, because Nowland was wandering through the building with a walker and holding a steak knife. White fired a Taser at her within minutes of confronting her. She fell back and hit her head on the floor. She died in a hospital a week later from an inoperable brain bleed. The judge said: "A frail and confused 95-year-old woman in fact posed nothing that could reasonably be described as a threat of any substance." Outside court, the victim's son, Michael Nowland,,expressed his family's disappointment that White wasn't sent to prison. "It was very disappointing for the family, because - well, a slap on the wrist for someone that's killed our mother," the son said. "It's very, very hard to process that." In a letter to Nowland's family presented to the court, White offered "sincere apologies for my actions." "I deeply regret my actions and the severe consequences it has caused to not only Mrs. Nowland but also to your family and the greater community," White wrote. "I take full responsibility for my actions. I felt and still feel horrible about what happened." White did not speak to the media after the court session in Sydney Friday.
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Yahoo
Ex-police officer avoids prison in Australia after killing woman, 95, with Taser
A former Australian police officer avoided a prison term when was he was sentenced on Friday for killing a 95-year-old nursing home resident with a stun gun. Kristian White was sentenced to 450 hours of community service and placed under the supervision of a corrections officer for two years for manslaughter. 'Mr White made by what any measure was a terrible mistake,' Justice Ian Harrison said in the New South Wales state Supreme Court. Prosecutors had called for a prison term in the killing of Clare Nowland, a great-grandmother who suffered from dementia, but the judge said such a punishment was disproportionate. 'It is … at the lower end of seriousness of crimes amounting to wrongful death,' Mr Harrison said. A jury convicted White last year, and he was sacked from the New South Wales police in December. He had faced a potential maximum sentence of 25 years in prison for manslaughter. Staff called police to a nursing home in Cooma on May 17 2023, because Mrs Nowland was wandering through the building with a walker and holding a steak knife. White fired his Taser at her within minutes of confronting her. She fell back and hit her head on the floor. She died in a hospital a week later from an inoperable brain bleed. The judge said: 'A frail and confused 95-year-old woman in fact posed nothing that could reasonably be described as a threat of any substance.' Outside court, the victim's son Michael Nowland expressed his family's disappointment that White had not been sent to prison. 'It was very disappointing for the family, because, well, a slap on the wrist for someone that's killed our mother,' he said. 'It's very, very hard to process that.' In a letter to Mrs Nowland's family presented to the court, White gave his 'sincere apologies for my actions'. 'I deeply regret my actions and the severe consequences it has caused to not only Mrs Nowland but also to your family and the greater community,' White wrote. 'I take full responsibility for my actions. I felt and still feel horrible about what happened,' he added. White did not speak to the media as he walked from the Sydney court on Friday. His lawyer Warwick Anderson told reporters outside court White and his partner were relieved that White had avoided jail. 'They're going to take their time and move on with their lives,' Anderson said.
