Crown prosecutor Brett Hatfield, SC, said Nowland did not respond to requests to drop the knife. He said police body-worn cameras captured White saying “bugger it” before he Tasered Nowland, who then fell and hit her head.
One of Nowland’s eight children, daughter Lesley Lloyd, gave evidence that she was contacted about her mother’s behaviour and had offered to come to the nursing home.
She agreed with the prosecutor’s suggestion she was then told Nowland “had a bad fall”, was unconscious and unresponsive. Lloyd said she went to Cooma hospital where her mother was in the emergency department.
“She was semi-conscious, she said my name,” Lloyd said. “I told her where she was, that she’s in the hospital.”
Clare Nowland died in hospital in May last year.Credit: Facebook
She was told her mother would not survive and said the family maintained a vigil at the hospital until Nowland died on May 24, 2023.
The court heard that while Nowland was still alive, Lloyd was asked by police for the pyjamas her mother had been wearing when she was Tasered by White.
“You took the pyjamas off your mother?” the prosecutor asked.
“Yes,” Lloyd replied.
She said she noticed two marks on Nowland’s torso.
The Crown alleges White was criminally negligent or committed an unlawful and dangerous act.
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The defence argues White’s response was not disproportionate to the risk, and that he had a duty as a police officer to protect people from injury and prevent a breach of the peace.
The jury is expected to view CCTV of the incident as the trial continues on Tuesday.
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