Police have pulled over a television news reporter and a camera crew shortly after they approached former Senior Constable Kristian White.
White was found guilty of manslaughter last week for discharging his stun gun at great-grandmother Clare Nowland, 95 at the Yallambee Lodge aged care home in the southern NSW town of Cooma during the early hours of May 17, 2023.
NSW Police commissioner Karen Webb confirmed on Tuesday that the 34-year-old had been sacked after being suspended without pay throughout the trial.
White was remanded on bail until his next sentencing hearing in February.
Seven News reporter Annie Pullar and a camera crew confronted White in Cooma on Thursday to ask him how it felt to be free for Christmas and if he had anything to say to Ms Nowland’s grieving family.
Dressed in a grey singlet, black shorts and wearing thongs and wrap around sunglasses, White remained silent as he got into his car and drove off.
The television crew then drove off but were pulled over by a highway patrol officer just minutes later.
Kristian White (pictured) was confronted by Channel Seven reporter Annie Pullar days after he was found guilty of manslaughter and removed from NSW Police
Just minutes later the Seven news crew were stopped by a highway patrol officer (pictured) who told them ‘someone just called the police in relation to the media’
After asking for the cameraman to undertake a breath test, the police officer said that ‘someone just called the police in relation to the media’.
‘I assume it’s got something to do with a matter that’s obviously before the court, (or) not before the court,’ the officer was heard telling the news crew.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted NSW Police for comment.
Ms Nowland’s granddaughter, Kylie Paske, said she was baffled as to why White was granted bail..
‘I no longer trust the police,’ she told Seven News.
Ms Paske has forgiven the former cop for firing the stun gun and ‘cried for him’ after the verdict.
But she added that ‘he’s guilty, he pulled the trigger’.
It comes after Commissioner Webb on Tuesday announced that she does ‘not have confidence’ in White’s ‘suitability to continue as a police officer’.
‘Accordingly, I have removed him from the NSW Police Force and he has been advised via his legal counsel,’ she said.
‘I have spoken with the family of the 95-year-old victim involved in this matter and advised them of my decision.’
White last week was found guilty of unlawfully killing 95-year-old grandmother Clare Nowland (pictured)
Kristian White has been granted bail while awaiting a sentencing hearing in February
In video footage played at his NSW Supreme Court trial, White was heard saying ‘nah, bugger it’ before shooting Mrs Nowland in the torso at the nursing home.
The 95-year-old, who was holding a steak knife at the time, fell backwards and hit her head before dying a week later in hospital.
The court heard Constable White and Acting Sergeant Jessica Pank were called to the facility in response to a triple-0 call claiming a ‘very aggressive resident’ was holding two knives.
Mrs Nowland had entered the rooms of four residents prior to the officers’ arrival shortly before 5am. The grandmother had thrown a knife at a staff member.
White faces up to 25 years behind bars but was allowed to walk free from court ahead of his sentencing in February.
‘So that there’s no secret about it, I will not commit a policeman to custody until I understand the conditions under which he will be held, if he is to be held,’ Justice Ian Harrison said at the time.
The Crown has applied for White to be jailed.
NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb (pictured) confirmed the 34-year-old had been sacked in a statement released just before 3pm on Tuesday
Mrs Nowland is survived by eight children, 24 grandchildren and 30 great-grandchildren.
Several members of her large family travelled for the trial last week and said they were ‘very happy’ with the jury’s verdict.
‘The family would like to thank the judge and jury for carefully considering the matter and the DPP prosecution team for their hard work,’ the lawyer said outside court.
‘The family will take some time to come to terms with the jury’s confirmation that Clare’s death at the hands of a serving NSW police officer was a criminal and unjustified act.’
