An inquest has revealed that police could have handled a situation with a 95-year-old dementia patient more safely, suggesting that allowing her time to calm down would have been a better option than using a Taser. The incident in question occurred when then-senior constable Kristian James Samuel White responded to a call at Yallambee Lodge nursing home in Cooma, southern New South Wales, on the morning of May 17, 2023.
Clare Nowland, the elderly resident, who was living with dementia, had picked up two steak knives from the facility’s kitchen area and resisted giving them back. Despite the potential danger she posed to herself, experts argue that the situation could have been managed without resorting to the use of a Taser.
In a separate development, Chinese vessels have been granted passage through the Strait of Hormuz, according to live updates.
When Nowland was hit in the chest by the Taser’s barbs, she fell and struck her head, leading to a brain bleed. Tragically, she never regained consciousness and passed away in the hospital a week later.
During the inquest, geriatrician Susan Kurrle testified that the police and paramedics involved in the incident might have opted to leave Nowland alone, allowing her to de-escalate naturally, which could have prevented the fatal outcome.
Geriatrician Susan Kurrle told an inquest into Nowland’s death that attending police and paramedics could have just left her alone to calm down.
“That in this case would have been the least of all evils,” the professor said.
Nowland had not shown any prior thoughts of self-harm, and aged care staff could have kept the door ajar a little to supervise, she added.
Professor Joseph Ibrahim said he would have grabbed a chair and sat in the doorway, distracting her with topics about how early in the morning it was.
He shrugged off any concerns after counsel assisting Sophie Callan SC said the 95-year-old could have thrown the knife at him.
“The likelihood that she would have been able to aim it, hit a vital spot is extraordinarily remote,” he said.
READ MORE: Man found dead in park kidnapped hours before death, police believe
Prof Kurrle told the inquest that dementia was “childhood development backwards”.
This required anyone approaching a person with dementia to do so as they would a young child – gentle, smiling, without being threatening.
At the three-day inquest, which began on Wednesday, State Coroner Teresa O’Sullivan has examined systemic issues that existed before the Tasering incident.
The focus of the evidence has been dementia care and training for aged care staff, police and ambulance officers.
Judge O’Sullivan has heard of numerous alternatives available to White and other police and paramedics attending, including contacting Nowland’s daughter, Lesley Lloyd, for help de-escalating the situation.
Prof Kurrle said the care offered by Yallambee Lodge staff to Nowland before her death was reasonable and appropriate.
READ MORE: FBI director Kash Patel’s ‘VIP snorkel’ at US war tomb revealed
The facility had been deemed compliant with aged care standards after a review by the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission in early 2023, she said.
Nowland’s family are expected to give a statement about the 95-year-old’s passing as the inquest concludes later on Friday.
The great-grandmother’s relatives have previously expressed disappointment that White did not spend a day in jail after being convicted of manslaughter by a NSW Supreme Court jury in November 2024.
He was given a two-year good behaviour bond in March 2025, a decision which was later upheld by the NSW Court of Criminal Appeal.
READ MORE: Trump comes one vote away from being forced to end war in Iran
NEVER MISS A STORY: Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.
- Download the 9NEWS App here via Apple and Google Play
- Make 9News your preferred source on Google by ticking this box here
- Sign up to our breaking newsletter here
