Australian grandmother Claire Nowland, 95, died after about a week in critical condition after being restrained by police with a taser.
“We are deeply saddened to report that Clare Nowland, 95, passed away in Cooma this evening,” the New South Wales State Police said in a statement on May 24.
Hours earlier, the 33-year-old police officer who shot Ms. Nowland with a stun gun, was charged with a negligent act causing serious injury, physical harm and assault with a firearm. The officer has been suspended from duty and will appear in court on July 5.
Sheriff Karen Webb said Nowland’s family was informed of the allegations against the officer and thanked investigators for their swift action.
Mrs. Clare Nowland. Photo: Guardian
Nowland, 1.57 m tall and 43 kg in weight, was held down by police with a Taser while holding a kitchen knife in a nursing home. She walked slowly towards the police, having to use a support structure when moving. The stun gun caused her to fall and injure her head, leaving her in critical condition.
New South Wales authorities are under pressure to release video of the incident, which was captured by body cameras. New South Wales Police objected to this and Sheriff Webb said that Ms. Nowland did not want the video released. However, Green Party MP Sue Higginson on 23 May sent a petition to the New South Wales legislature, demanding that the video be made public.
“Refusal to publish the video is only possible for the wrong reasons. The New South Wales community has a right to know exactly what happened when Clare Nowland was shot with a taser,” said MP Higginson, adding that reform was needed. of the police force. .
In 2020, six Australian police officers also handcuffed an 80-year-old woman, Rachel Grahame, because she grabbed the handle of an employee’s card.
Ngoc Anh (according to AFP)
