A 95-year-old Australian woman who was tasered by a police officer in her care home last week died on Wednesday – and officials said more charges can be filed against the officer.
Clare Nowland, a dementia patient, fractured her skull when she fell to the bottom after being shocked by Officer Kristian White on May 17.
In line with officials, White and one other police officer responded to a call from a specialist nursing home in Recent South Wales after staff reported that Nowland had taken a steak knife from the kitchen.
![Australian great-grandmother Clare Nowland, 95, died after being tasered by a police officer.](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/05/NYPICHPDPICT000011296937-1.jpg?w=1024)
![Senior Constable Kristian White will be charged with reckless causing grievous bodily harm, assault causing actual bodily harm and ordinary assault.](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/05/129117230_4070818046318119_4410911966886807063_n.jpg?w=768)
Armed with a knife, Nowland was approaching police “at a slow pace” with the help of a walker when White used her stunner, said Peter Cotter, NSW’s deputy police commissioner.
White was initially charged with reckless causing grievous bodily harm, assault causing actual bodily harm, and customary assault. The fees were expected to be stepped up after Nowland died from her injuries at a Cooma hospital.
The usage of force against an incapacitated woman sparked a national debate about police policy and procedures for aged care staff. Cops can only use taser-like weapons on suspects when their lives are at risk.
![Police were called to the Yallambee Lodge aged care home in Cooma, Australia, after Nowland was found holding a steak knife.](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/05/NYPICHPDPICT000011297333-1.jpg?w=1024)
![The officer fired the taser while Nowland was approaching with the knife at a distance of approx](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/05/NYPICHPDPICT000011351696.jpg?w=1024)
![According to NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb, the charges against the officer could be further improved.](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/05/NYPICHPDPICT000011351694.jpg?w=1024)
Police declined to release body camera footage of the incident and say Nowland’s injuries were the results of her falling to the ground, not the electrocution from the stun gun.
On Tuesday, White was suspended from paying while police conducted an internal investigation.
With AP cables