Paramedic Calls Taser Use on 95‑Year‑Old Dementia Patient Excessive After Officer Convicted of Manslaughter

Context On 17 May 2023, police responded to Yallambee Lodge nursing home in Cooma after Nowland, a 95‑year‑old resident with dementia, seized two kitchen knives. During the ensuing two‑minute encounter, senior constable Kristian James Samuel White drew his taser, aimed it for a minute, then discharged it at her chest. The stun‑gun barbs caused a head injury; Nowland never regained consciousness and died a week later from a brain bleed.

Key Facts - Intensive‑care paramedic Anna Hofner, who was on scene, told the Queanbeyan coroner’s court she felt “absolute shock and disbelief” and judged the taser use “excessive” and not proportionate to the incident. - A NSW Supreme Court jury found White guilty of manslaughter in November 2024; in March 2025 he received a two‑year good‑behaviour bond, a sentence upheld on appeal. - One in four Australians over 80 has dementia, and projections suggest the condition could affect more than 4 % of the total population within two decades, highlighting systemic pressures on aged‑care and emergency services. - The coroner, Teresa O’Sullivan, will examine systemic failures, including the lack of dementia‑specific training for police and ambulance staff at the time of the incident. Training on handling dementia patients with non‑lethal force was only introduced in 2024. - Legal counsel for the family argued that a simple “pause point” – a brief stop to plan a response – could have allowed officers to close the door and monitor Nowland without force. - White, removed from the force in December 2024, attempted to regain his position through the Industrial Relations Commission but withdrew the claim in August.

What It Means The case underscores a gap between emergency response protocols and the growing prevalence of dementia among the elderly. As Australia’s ageing population expands, the need for clear, non‑violent de‑escalation strategies in aged‑care settings becomes urgent. Future inquiries will likely focus on mandatory dementia training for first responders and revised guidelines for the use of tasers on vulnerable individuals.

Watch for the coroner’s recommendations and any legislative changes to police and ambulance training that may arise from this inquest.