NSW police officer Kristian White has been sentenced to a community corrections order (CCO) after he was found guilty of manslaughter for tasering a 95-year-old.
Staff at an aged care home in regional NSW called Triple Zero in May 2023 after finding Clare Nowland holding a steak knife.
Soon after Kristian White arrived on the scene, he tasered Nowland, who died in hospital from her injuries.
On Friday, a judge sentenced White to 425 hours of community service and a two-year CCO. It means he will not spend time in jail.
Context
On the night of the incident, 95-year-old Nowland weighed 47kg and used a walking frame. It’s believed she had dementia, although she was not formally diagnosed.
According to evidence presented to the court, White and his fellow officers tried to tell Nowland to drop the knife she was carrying.
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White then said “bugger it” and deployed his taser. Nowland fell backwards and hit her head.
He was found guilty of her manslaughter in November 2024.
Sentencing
According to Corrective Services NSW, judges can impose a CCO when they consider a crime “too serious to be dealt with by a fine,” but not serious enough for jail.
The CCO can include up to 500 hours of community service work, and supervision by a corrections officer.
White has also been removed from the police force, a decision he is appealing.
