<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?> <docID>333200</docID> <postdate>2024-11-15 15:07:45</postdate> <headline>Cop who tasered elderly woman should have ‘evaluated’</headline> <body><p> </p> <p><img class=" wp-image-333201" src="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/20241113143909317703-original-2-scaled.jpg" alt="" width="901" height="600" /></p> <caption>A police operational safety instructor has testified at Kristian White's manslaughter trial. (Bianca De Marchi/AAP PHOTOS)</caption> <p class="wire-column__preview__author"><span class="kicker-line">By <b>Duncan Murray</b> in Sydney</span></p> <p><strong>Tasering a person who is armed with a knife is generally an appropriate action for police but might not be suitable in every instance, an officer's trial over the death of an elderly woman has been told.</strong></p> <p>Senior Constable Kristian White fired his stun gun at Clare Nowland, 95, 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.</p> <p>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.</p> <p>White is facing a trial in the NSW Supreme Court after pleading not guilty to manslaughter.</p> <p>NSW Police operational safety instructor William Watt on Friday said officers were trained that a subject armed with a knife presented a significant threat.</p> <p>In close proximity, knives could be just as deadly as guns and were capable of being deployed quickly and repeatedly, Sergeant Watt told the court, reading from his pre-prepared statement.</p> <p>"A knife is capable of inflicting multiple life-threatening injuries very quickly," he said.</p> <p>"Using a Taser against a subject armed with a knife is generally considered an appropriate option."</p> <p>But officers were not trained that a knife should automatically warrant a gun or Taser being used, he said.</p> <p>"Police are expected to evaluate the circumstances and select an appropriate tactical option based on the situation that confronts them," Sgt Watt said.</p> <p>When considering the use of force, a police officer's ultimate goal was to obtain control over the subject, he added.</p> <p>But the confusion caused by dementia could make circumstances more difficult for officers to navigate, Sgt Watt said.</p> <p>Defence barrister Troy Edwards SC asked the training expert if he accepted obtaining control could be difficult in circumstances where negotiation with the subject was limited or non-existent.</p> <p>"Yes, it can be," Sgt Watt replied.</p> <p>A senior officer also recounted to the court a conversation he had with White following the Taser incident.</p> <p>Sergeant Garrett Dawson said the senior constable told him: "I've had a look and supposedly we aren't meant to tase elderly people.</p> <p>"But in the circumstances I needed to. Maybe this will be my first critical incident."</p> <p>Sgt Dawson said he replied: "Maybe."</p> <p>In his statement, Sgt Watt said one of the options available to police was to approach a subject and physically remove the knife from them, however he said that action could present a high degree of risk.</p> <p>One of the overarching philosophies of policing was the use of appropriate force based on the circumstances, he said.</p> <p>"We should be using no more force than is reasonably necessary to perform our duties," Sgt Watt said.</p> <p>The trial will continue on Monday.</p> </body>