Family pays tribute to Australian woman, 95, who died after being tasered by police
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
Ms Clare Nowland, who had dementia, was tasered after staff found her holding a knife outside her room in the care home. The incident has brought into focus the use of force by police in Australia.
PHOTO: SCREENGRAB FROM TWITTER
Follow topic:
SYDNEY - The family of a 95-year-old woman who died after being tasered by police
Ms Clare Nowland, who had dementia, died in hospital on Wednesday, police in New South Wales (NSW) said.
She was tasered after staff found her holding a knife outside her room in the care home
The case has caused outrage in Australia, and brought into focus the use of force by police in the country.
The senior constable involved in the incident will appear in court next week on charges of recklessly causing grievous bodily harm, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and common assault.
In another case, a NSW police officer was found guilty of assault on Monday after an incident involving a 16-year-old boy from the country’s Indigenous community in 2020.
In a statement to the local Monaro Post newspaper on Thursday, Ms Nowland’s family said she died “surrounded by the love and support of her family”.
“We wish to thank the staff at Cooma Hospital for their care and support for Clare and our family,” the statement said.
NSW Premier Chris Minns said he has confidence in NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb and Police Minister Yasmin Catley, adding that police resources in the state were stretched.
“I know that resources are stretched, particularly for NSW Police, and police have to attend a whole range of events involving many, many different scenarios,” he told reporters. REUTERS
