By Samantha Lock in Sydney
THE family of a 95-year-old woman who died after she was tasered by police in an aged care home is suing the NSW government.
The civil case came before Bega District Court on Tuesday, with Clare Margaret Nowland listed as the plaintiff.
It’s understood the civil proceedings were initially filed while the 95-year-old was still fighting for her life in Cooma Hospital, with her family now pursuing the case since her death in May.
The case has been adjourned until August 24.
Mrs Nowland died in Cooma Hospital on May 24, a week after she was tasered at the Yallambee Lodge aged care home in Cooma.
The grandmother, who had dementia and weighed 43 kilograms, was confronted by police while using a walking frame and holding a steak knife.
She was tasered and fell, striking her head on the ground.
Mrs Nowland clung to life for a week after sustaining critical injuries including a fractured skull.
Senior Constable Kristian White was charged over her death and appeared in Cooma Court Local Court via video link last week.
The 33-year-old officer, who is stood down and on full pay, has been charged with recklessly causing grievous bodily harm, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and common assault.
He is yet to enter a plea and the matter will return to court on September 6.
Who can be trusted?
In a world of spin and confusion, there’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in Canberra.
If you trust our work online and want to enforce the power of independent voices, I invite you to make a small contribution.
Every dollar of support is invested back into our journalism to help keep citynews.com.au strong and free.
Thank you,
Ian Meikle, editor
Leave a Reply