95-year-old woman dies after police officer fires taser

She had been in critical condition in hospital for a week. A 95-year-old Australian woman, who had been shocked with a taser in her nursing home because she was “armed with a knife”, died in hospital on Wednesday May 24. “It is with great sadness that we confirm the death of Clare Nowland, 95, in Cooma this evening”said the police of the state of New South Wales (Australia) in a press release.

Hours earlier on Wednesday, a suspended 33-year-old police officer was charged in connection with the case which sparked outrage. He was notably charged with recklessly inflicting grievous bodily harm. He will appear in court on July 5.

On May 17, police were called to the Yallambee Lodge nursing home in southern New South Wales. The staff had told them that a woman was “armed with a knife”. They claimed to have urged this elderly lady to drop this meat knife, before she headed “at a slow pace” in their direction by leaning on his walker. At this time, the offending officer used his taser against her.