Inquest into tasering death of 95-year-old Clare Nowland with dementia in aged care
Consensus Summary
The inquest into the death of Clare Nowland, a 95-year-old woman with dementia who was tasered by former NSW Police officer Kristian White in May 2023, is examining systemic failures in dementia care and emergency response training. Nowland was a resident at Yallambee Lodge aged care facility in Cooma when she was tasered after holding a knife, leading to her death from a brain bleed one week later. White was convicted of manslaughter in 2024 and sentenced to a two-year community correction order. The inquest, held in May 2026, heard testimony from paramedics and police officers who agreed that more time could have been taken to de-escalate the situation, and that neither police nor ambulance services had specific dementia-related training at the time. The focus is on improving protocols for aged care staff, police, and emergency services to prevent similar incidents, especially as Australia’s ageing population increases the prevalence of dementia. The Nowland family expressed disappointment with White’s lack of remorse and called for meaningful changes to avoid future tragedies.
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Key details reported by multiple sources:
- Clare Nowland, 95, was tasered by former NSW Police Senior Constable Kristian White on May 17, 2023, at Yallambee Lodge aged care facility in Cooma
- Nowland died one week later in Cooma Hospital from a brain bleed caused by injuries from the taser deployment
- White was found guilty of manslaughter in a NSW Supreme Court jury trial in November 2024 and sentenced to a two-year community correction order with 425 hours of community service
- The inquest into Nowland’s death began on May 13, 2026, in the Queanbeyan Coroners Court and ran for three days
- Nowland weighed 47.5 kilograms and had symptoms consistent with dementia at the time of the incident
- White deployed his taser after a three-minute exchange with Nowland, who was holding a steak knife against her walker
- The inquest focuses on systemic issues, including dementia training for aged care staff, police, and emergency services
- White was removed from the NSW Police Force after the manslaughter trial in December 2024
- The inquest heard that NSW Police and NSW Ambulance officers could have taken more time to de-escalate the situation
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- Paramedic Anna Hofner described White’s taser deployment as 'excessive' and Senior Constable Jessica Pank said she was surprised it was deployed and did not believe it was justified
- NSW Ambulance officers Martin Nichols, Alan Morrison, and Sheryl Baker testified that police and paramedics could have stood back and had a discussion with Nowland, given her limited mobility
- NSW Police Mental Health Command Superintendent Kirsty Hales suggested shutting the door to the room or containing Nowland within the facility to formulate a safer plan
- A NSW Supreme Court jury found White guilty of manslaughter in 2024, with Justice Ian Harrison noting White’s crime was not premeditated and he showed remorse
- The inquest heard that neither NSW Police nor NSW Ambulance officers had specific training for responding to incidents involving people with dementia at the time of the incident
- Clare Nowland’s daughter, Jenny Jordan, stated in court that White had shown 'no remorse or accountability' for his actions
- Coroner Teresa O’Sullivan acknowledged the family’s emotional distress and reiterated the inquest’s goal to prevent similar incidents in the future
- Clare Nowland was described as an 'extremely generous woman' who carried out charitable work and pursued interests like golfing and travel until her late 80s
- The inquest heard that neither NSW Police nor NSW Ambulance officers had training specifically addressing dementia patients wielding objects like knives at the time of the incident
- The Guardian noted that ambulance officers were later trained to respond to a dementia patient wielding a spatula in an aged care facility
- The inquest is expected to examine how police and ambulance officers cooperate and communicate when dealing with dementia patients
- The Guardian emphasized the need for recommendations to improve training given Australia’s ageing population, with one in four people over 80 having dementia
Where the reporting differs
Details that conflict, or appear in only some outlets:
- The ABC states that White was found guilty of manslaughter in 2024 and sentenced in March 2025, while the Guardian mentions the sentence was upheld by the NSW Court of Criminal Appeal but does not specify the exact month of the appeal decision
- The ABC reports that White took action against NSW Police in the Industrial Relations Commission to regain his position but dropped the bid in August 2025, while the Guardian does not mention this legal action
Source Articles
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Inquest into death of Clare Nowland after Tasering by NSW police aims to answer ‘outstanding questions’
Coroner will examine 95-year-old’s death and look at dementia training for aged care staff, police and ambulance officers Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Three years after police fatally Tasered an aged care resident, an inquest could save lives by improving training for first responders dealing with aggressive dementia patients. Then-senior constable Kristian James Samuel White fired his Taser at 95-year-old Clare Nowland after being called to Yallambee Lodge nursin
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