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Police Officer Convicted in Elderly Woman’s Tasering Death
A police officer has been found guilty of manslaughter in the death of a 95-year-old woman with dementia symptoms.
Kristian White Tasered Clare Nowland at a care home in May 2023 after she was seen wandering with a knife. Nowland died a week later from a head injury.
White claimed his use of force was reasonable, but prosecutors argued that the elderly woman posed no threat. They said White neglected his duty of care by using excessive force on a vulnerable person.
White has been suspended from duty and will be sentenced at a later date.
The incident sparked public outrage and raised questions about police use of Tasers. Police Commissioner Karen Webb said the force’s Taser policies have been reviewed and found appropriate.
However, Nowland’s family said her death was a “criminal and unjustified act” and called for justice.