National

Cop who tasered great-gran takes stand at trial

By AAP Newswire

Nov 18, 2024

Kristian White (file) — Kristian White is giving evidence at his own manslaughter trial. -AAP Image

A police officer who stands by tasering a 95-year-old aged-care resident a week before she died has taken the stand at his own manslaughter trial.

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Senior Constable Kristian White fired his stun gun at Clare Nowland in a treatment room at Yallambee Lodge aged-care home in the southern NSW town of Cooma during the early hours of May 17, 2023.

The great-grandmother, who had symptoms of dementia and was holding a knife at the time, fell backwards, hitting her head, and died a week later in hospital.

As White's trial entered its second week on Monday, the 34-year-old got into the witness box to explain his side of the story under questioning from his barrister Troy Edwards SC.

He is also expected to undergo a grilling by crown prosecutor Brett Hatfield SC later in the trial.

White has been accused of criminal negligence or conducting an unlawful and dangerous act that led to the unlawful killing of Mrs Nowland.

However, he has defended his actions, saying he was fulfilling his sworn duty as a police officer to protect others in the nursing home from the threat that the 95-year-old posed with the knife.

The trial continues.

By AAP Newswire

Australian Associated Press