Inquest into death of Clare Nowland after Tasering by NSW police aims to answer ‘outstanding questions’
Summary
An inquest is examining the death of 95-year-old Clare Nowland, who died after being hit with a Taser by police at a nursing home in New South Wales in May 2023. The investigation focuses on how first responders handle situations involving elderly people with dementia and aims to improve training to prevent similar deaths.Key Facts
- Clare Nowland, a 95-year-old woman with dementia, was fatally Tasered by police in a nursing home in Cooma, NSW, on 17 May 2023.
- Police were called after Nowland took two serrated knives and refused to give them up.
- After being hit by the Taser, Nowland fell, hit her head, and died a week later from a brain bleed.
- The police officer involved, Kristian James Samuel White, was found guilty of manslaughter and given a two-year good behaviour bond.
- Neither NSW police nor ambulance officers had special training for incidents involving people with dementia at the time.
- The inquest will look at dementia care, training for first responders, and ways to improve cooperation between police and ambulance staff.
- Experts expect dementia cases in Australia to double in 20 years due to the aging population.
- The police officer was removed from the force but briefly challenged his dismissal before dropping the effort.
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