<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?> <docID>332820</docID> <postdate>2024-11-11 11:28:49</postdate> <headline>Cop’s trial under way for tasering 95-year-old woman</headline> <body><p><img class="size-full wp-image-332821" src="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241111143248905247-original-resized.jpg" alt="" width="900" height="600" /></p> <caption>Senior Constable Kristian White is accused of manslaughter over the tasering of an elderly woman. (Steve Markham/AAP PHOTOS)</caption> <p><span class="kicker-line">By <strong>Miklos Bolza</strong> in Sydney</span></p> <p><strong>A police officer cursed before tasering a 95-year-old aged-care patient with dementia as she approached him with a steak knife, a jury has heard.</strong></p> <p>Senior Constable Kristian James Samuel White appeared in the NSW Supreme Court on Monday, when he pleaded not guilty to manslaughter in front of a jury panel.</p> <p>The 34-year-old is alleged to have used a Taser on great-grandmother Clare Nowland at the Yallambee Lodge aged-care home in the southern NSW town of Cooma in the early hours of May 17, 2023.</p> <p>He visited the facility with his partner after receiving reports that an "aggressive" patient was raising a steak knife at staff, prosecutor Brett Hatfield SC said.</p> <p>The 95-year-old had dementia and used a four-wheeled walking frame, and had raised the knife several times in front of the two officers, the jury heard.</p> <p>White issued a number of warnings before saying "bugger it" and discharging his weapon, Mr Hatfield said.</p> <p><img class=" wp-image-287543" src="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Clare-Nowland.jpg" alt="" width="744" height="497" /></p> <caption>Clare Nowland raised a knife several times in front of two police officers, the jury heard.</caption> <p>Mrs Nowland hit her head on the floor when she fell and had an inoperable bleed on the brain, dying at Cooma Hospital a week after the incident.</p> <p>"Are you guilty or not guilty?" Justice Ian Harrison's associate asked as White was formally arraigned on Monday.</p> <p>"Not guilty, Your Honour," the officer replied.</p> <p>White's partner supported him in court while a large number of Ms Nowland's family were also in attendance.</p> <p>The trial continues.</p> </body>