CANBERRA (AP) Report By Dr Majid Khan- A 95-year-old Australian woman died Wednesday, a week after being tragically shot with a stun gun by a police officer who approached her with a walker and steak knife at a nursing home. This infuriated many Australians.
Claire Nowland, who has dementia, was hospitalized in Cooma, New South Wales after being shocked by a stun gun by Officer Christian White on May 17 and falling, breaking her skull.
Police announced Nowland’s death after reporting that White was sentenced to appear in court on July 5 on charges of aggravated assault, assault with actual assault, and aggravated assault. After her death, guilt could grow even more.
Ms. White and another police officer said that after a staff member called Ms. Nowland a serrated steak knife from the kitchen, White and another police officer said they were at Kuma’s care home, which specializes in residents with advanced needs, including dementia. We went to Yalumby Lodge. Violence against older and disabled women has sparked national debate about the use of stun guns by police and the competence of aged care staff in such situations. Police are authorized to use stun guns when life is in danger.
A coroner will determine the cause of death. Police said her injuries were not caused by a fall to the ground, nor were they caused by an electrical charge from a Taser stun gun.
White has been under police investigation since the incident and has been suspended since Tuesday. Ms. White and her police partner that day had obtained footage of the incident from a body camera, but police refused to release it.
The government, elected a year ago, is increasing funding for elderly care.
