Grandmother tasered: Major unanswered questions trends now
The death of a 95-year-old great grandmother who was allegedly Tasered by a policeman has sent shockwaves around Australia - as an officer is charged and police refuse to release footage of the incident.
Clare Nowland, a dementia sufferer who weighed just 43kg, was Tasered at an Cooma old age home just after 4am last Wednesday.
The dementia sufferer, who weighs just 43kg, had been holding a steak knife when she 'slowly' approached a police officer at the Yallambee Lodge in southern NSW.
Senior Constable Kristian White, 33, allegedly used a Taser on Mrs Nowland, prompting her to collapse to the ground, knock her head and suffer a bleed to the brain. She passed away in Cooma Hospital just after 7pm on Wednesday.
Just an hour after death, Constable White was charged with recklessly causing grievous bodily harm, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and common assault.
A protest has been planned in Sydney over her death, with protesters set to march from Paramatta train station to the NSW Police Headquarters at 12pm.
Sunrise host Natalie Barr asked former NSW Police detective Peter Moroney if things could have ended differently for Mrs Nowland.
'As a former policeman, even when I looked at it, the queries in my mind were that she is 95, that she was on a walking frame, was there an alternative option that was there, that could have been done? It's hard to comment,' he said.
'As a father, particularly as a son it's devastating for the family what's happened. I would be wanting answers and they deserve answers too.'
The former detective was asked if he thought the senior constable's charges would be upgraded to manslaughter or murder.
'Look, there is a reasonable chance that they will be. Obviously, the recklessness and grievous bodily harm was done prior to Mrs Nowland's passing away.
'I would absolutely expect that police or the DPP will now consider that in light of her passing.'
Commissioner Webb addressed the media after Constable White was charged.
'This matter now is before the court and there's little more that I can say about it other than to say that the Nowland family have been informed of this
