Ex-NSW Police Officer Sentenced to Community Service for Taser Death of 95-Year-Old

Kristian White avoided jail time for the manslaughter of Clare Nowland, receiving a two-year community corrections order and 425 hours of community service.

Kristian White was convicted of manslaughter for Tasering Clare Nowland, a 95-year-old woman with dementia, in May 2023 at an aged care facility in Cooma, NSW.
The NSW Supreme Court sentenced White to a two-year community corrections order, determining that his actions fell on the lower end of objective seriousness for manslaughter.
Justice Ian Harrison stated that White's actions were a 'terrible mistake' stemming from a misreading of the situation and ruled that prison time would be disproportionate.
Clare Nowland's family criticized the sentence as overly lenient, describing it as a 'slap on the wrist,' while White expressed remorse in a letter to the family.
The case has reignited discussions about police accountability, the use of force against vulnerable individuals, and the adequacy of police training in handling such situations.

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