Clare Nowland (pictured), a dementia sufferer who weighed just 43kg, died in Cooma Hospital in southern NSW at around 7pm on Wednesday, a week after being Tasered
The NSW Police Force is rolling out a new model Taser that won’t have built-in cameras – just weeks after the death of a 95-year-old woman who a cop blasted with the weapon.
Great-grandmother Clare Nowland, who used a walking frame and suffered from dementia, died at Cooma Hospital in southern NSW last Wednesday night after falling over and hitting her head when she was Tasered.
She was allegedly Tasered by Senior Constable Kristian White at the Yallambee Lodge aged care facility in the early hours of May 17.
The current Taser X26Ps, used by officers throughout the Force, have integrated cameras which are automatically activated when the weapon is used.
But police have confirmed this week those Tasers have been ‘discontinued’ and the new Taser 7 is now being rolled out for officers across the state.
‘The manufacturers of the Taser 7 have not included a camera in the unit,’ a police spokesperson confirmed.
Senior Constable Kristian White, 33, allegedly asked Mrs Nowland, who weighed just 43kg, to ‘stop’ multiple times when telling her to drop the knife before saying, ‘No, bugger it’, and deploying his Taser
‘Taser 7’s can be integrated with body worn vision, and NSWPF is working with companies to develop a holster activation device which will ensure the BWV turns on when the Taser is drawn.
‘NSWPF has sufficient BWV units for operational police.’
However, that requires police to actively turn on their body worn cameras at the time of an incident.
The development was first reported by Sky News.
Police were called to Mrs Nowland’s nursing home when staff saw her wielding a knife in the early hours of May 17.
Mr White, 33, allegedly asked Mrs Nowland yo drop the knife before saying, ‘No, bugger it’, and deploying his Taser.
Mr White has been charged with recklessly causing grievous bodily harm, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and common assault. He is expected to fight the charges.
The incident is being investigated with footage of the encounter expected to be crucial.
The current Taser X26Ps have integrated cameras that are automatically activated when the weapon is used. They have been discontinued by the NSW Police force
It is understood a female officer who also responded to the call will not be charged but may face disciplinary action.
Mr White is due to appear at Cooma Local Court on Wednesday, July 5, 2023. Of the charges he faces, recklessly causing grievous bodily harm carries a penalty of up to 10 years in jail.
Assault occasioning actual bodily harm carries a prison term of up to seven years, while being convicted of common assault could lead to up to two years behind bars.
He remains suspended from duty with pay.
Source: | This article originally belongs to Dailymail.co.uk