Senior Constable Kristian White has been officially stood down by NSW Police after he was found guilty of the manslaughter of a 95-year-old great-grandmother.
The senior officer discharged his stun gun at Clare Nowland in a treatment room at 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 the 34-year-old had been sacked in a statement released just before 3pm on Tuesday.
‘Today (Tuesday 3 December 2024) I have determined that I do not have confidence in the officer’s suitability to continue as a police officer, in line with the procedure mandated under the Police Act 1990 section 181D,’ it read.
‘Accordingly, I have removed him from the NSW Police Force and he has been advised via his legal counsel.
‘I have spoken with the family of the 95-year-old victim involved in this matter and advised them of my decision.’
It comes just days after the senior constable was suspended from the force without pay with Commissioner Webb confirming White’s employment was ‘under review’.
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 a rural nursing home.
Senior Constable Kristian White (pictured) has been officially stood down by NSW Police
White last week was found guilty of unlawfully killing 95-year-old grandmother Clare Nowland (pictured)
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 was convicted of manslaughter last Wednesday following four days of jury deliberation.
He faces up to 25 years behind bars but was allowed to walk free from court ahead of his sentencing, set to take place later this year.
‘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.
Mrs Nowland is survived by eight children, 24 grandchildren and 30 great-grandchildren.
NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb (pictured) confirmed the 34-year-old had been sacked in a statement released just before 3pm on Tuesday
Several members of her large family travelled for the trial last week and said they were ‘very happy’ with the jury’s verdict.
A lawyer representing Mrs Nowland’s family shared a statement outside the court.
‘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.
‘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.’
