Australian Court Dismisses Push to Jail Ex-Officer Who Tasered 95-Year-Old Woman
SYDNEY, July 30, 2025 – An Australian appeals court has upheld a non-custodial sentence for a former police officer who fatally Tasered a 95-year-old woman, rejecting calls to send him to prison and sparking renewed debate over justice, police accountability, and the treatment of the elderly.
On Wednesday, the New South Wales Court of Criminal Appeal dismissed an appeal brought by prosecutors seeking jail time for Kristian White, 35, who was convicted of manslaughter in the 2023 death of Clare Nowland, a great-grandmother suffering from dementia.
The court’s three-judge panel unanimously ruled that the sentence—450 hours of community service—was lenient but not “manifestly inadequate”, emphasizing the sentencing judge’s discretion in the case.
The incident occurred on May 17, 2023, at a nursing home in Cooma, a rural town in southern New South Wales. Staff at the Yallambee Lodge aged care facility had called police after Nowland was found slowly wandering the premises with a walking frame and a steak knife in her hand.
White, responding to the call, deployed his Taser on Nowland, who was 5 feet tall, weighed around 43 kilograms (95 pounds), and posed no significant physical threat. The elderly woman fell and struck her head on the floor, suffering a catastrophic brain injury. She died in hospital a week later.
The case drew nationwide outrage and international headlines, with many questioning the use of force on a vulnerable, elderly person with dementia. White was subsequently charged with manslaughter and faced a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison.
However, in March 2025, a trial judge sentenced White to community service, citing his mental health, lack of prior criminal history, and remorse. The decision left the Nowland family devastated, prompting Director of Public Prosecutions Sally Dowling to launch an appeal, arguing the punishment was insufficient for such a tragic loss of life.
But on Wednesday, the appeals court upheld the original sentence.
“While the sentence is undoubtedly lenient, it falls within the wide sentencing discretion afforded to the trial judge,” the court’s decision read.
Neither White nor his legal team were present in court or gave public comment following the ruling. The Nowland family has not issued a media statement, although they previously called the sentence “insulting” and “inexplicable.”
The prosecution still has the option of appealing to Australia’s High Court, though such applications are rarely successful and must meet strict legal thresholds.
The outcome has sparked a renewed discussion across Australia about law enforcement practices, particularly in aged care settings and when responding to individuals with cognitive impairment. Many critics argue that police are not adequately trained to handle such situations without resorting to force.
Human rights advocates and elder care organizations have condemned both the original sentence and Wednesday’s ruling as a failure of justice.
“This decision sends a dangerous message that deadly force against the most vulnerable members of our society can go unpunished,” said Elaine Barker of the Elder Justice Network. “Clare Nowland deserved compassion, not a Taser.”
Others, however, have defended the outcome, citing the complexity of the situation and the legal standard for manslaughter convictions in Australia. Legal experts noted that sentencing in such cases often involves balancing intent, negligence, and consequence, and not just public outrage.
White has reportedly not returned to policing since the incident and has remained out of the public eye.
For now, the case of Clare Nowland stands as a painful reminder of the limits and controversies of Australia’s justice system when it comes to police use of force and the protection of society’s most vulnerable.
