Man fighting for life after being shot by NSW Police at Elderslie in Sydney's southwest
A man is in critical condition after being shot by NSW Police during a welfare check.
Officers arrived at a cabin on Macarthur Rd at Elderslie — in Sydney's southwest — about 12.15pm on Thursday when the 52 year-old-man made threats to self-harm while armed with a knife.
A standoff ensued, with negotiators attempting to speak with the man.
About 3.30pm, officers gained access to the cabin and the man 'rushed at officers with the knife,' NSW Police said.
'Police discharged a Taser and less-than-lethal tactical rounds, which were ineffective before the man was shot.'
Paramedics treated the man at the scene before transporting him to Liverpool Hospital, where he remains in a critical condition.
'A critical incident team from State Crime Command's Homicide Squad will lead the investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident,' NSW Police said.
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The Advertiser
2 days ago
- The Advertiser
'Unjust': push to jail cop for great-gran Taser death
The loss of confidence in police after a cop fatally tasered a 95-year-old aged care resident should have been taken into account when he was spared jail for killing, a court has been told. Then-senior constable Kristian James Samuel White fired his Taser at Clare Nowland minutes after being called to the Yallambee Lodge nursing home at Cooma in southern NSW. She died in hospital a week after the incident in the early hours of May 17, 2023. The 35-year-old was handed a two-year good behaviour bond and ordered to complete community service in March after a jury found him guilty of manslaughter. The Crown quickly lodged an appeal against the "manifestly inadequate" penalty, with the state's most senior prosecutor on Friday arguing the sentencing judge made a number of errors. NSW Director of Public Prosecutions Sally Dowling argued Justice Ian Harrison should have taken into account victim impact statements from Mrs Nowland's family as evidence of the broader harm wreaked on the community. Several relatives previously told the court they had lost trust in the ability of police officers to protect vulnerable people. "It's shock, it's loss of confidence ... it's torn the fabric of society," Ms Dowling told three judges in the NSW Court of Criminal Appeal. While Justice Harrison considered the statements when assessing the objective seriousness of the manslaughter, he didn't stress the harm done to the wider community. It amounted to a mishandling of the evidence that fed into the delivery of an inadequate sentence, she argued. During a two minute and 40 second interaction, White drew his weapon and pointed it at Mrs Nowland before saying "nah, bugger it" and discharging the Taser at her chest. The elderly woman, who weighed less than 48kg, fell and suffered a fatal brain injury. In his judgment, Justice Harrison said the need to deter other police officers from committing similar offences played "only a minor role" in his sentencing decision. But Ms Dowling argued he made a mistake by not issuing a strong warning to other officers. "(Police) occupy a trusted role in our community and they must take the utmost care to use those weapons carefully," she said. "This case required a sentence that sends a clear message that an unjustified resort to force or violence when other options are available will result in serious criminal punishment." Mrs Nowland was experiencing dementia symptoms, relied on her walking frame to move and was "extremely vulnerable" when she encountered White, the prosecutor said. The great-grandmother was holding a knife but didn't advance towards White while brandishing it and had no discernible reaction to his requests to put the blade down. "(White) did not give her any real chance to avoid being tasered," Ms Dowling said. "There were many other options available to him". Justice Harrison also made a mistake when he found the officer made a "terrible mistake" but his crime was less serious than other manslaughter offences, Ms Dowling argued. As a result, she alleges the non-custodial sentence handed to White was "plainly unjust". "The truly senseless, impatient, and violent conduct of the offender requires a sentence that gives weight to denunciation," she said. White's lawyers are expected to address the court on Friday afternoon. The loss of confidence in police after a cop fatally tasered a 95-year-old aged care resident should have been taken into account when he was spared jail for killing, a court has been told. Then-senior constable Kristian James Samuel White fired his Taser at Clare Nowland minutes after being called to the Yallambee Lodge nursing home at Cooma in southern NSW. She died in hospital a week after the incident in the early hours of May 17, 2023. The 35-year-old was handed a two-year good behaviour bond and ordered to complete community service in March after a jury found him guilty of manslaughter. The Crown quickly lodged an appeal against the "manifestly inadequate" penalty, with the state's most senior prosecutor on Friday arguing the sentencing judge made a number of errors. NSW Director of Public Prosecutions Sally Dowling argued Justice Ian Harrison should have taken into account victim impact statements from Mrs Nowland's family as evidence of the broader harm wreaked on the community. Several relatives previously told the court they had lost trust in the ability of police officers to protect vulnerable people. "It's shock, it's loss of confidence ... it's torn the fabric of society," Ms Dowling told three judges in the NSW Court of Criminal Appeal. While Justice Harrison considered the statements when assessing the objective seriousness of the manslaughter, he didn't stress the harm done to the wider community. It amounted to a mishandling of the evidence that fed into the delivery of an inadequate sentence, she argued. During a two minute and 40 second interaction, White drew his weapon and pointed it at Mrs Nowland before saying "nah, bugger it" and discharging the Taser at her chest. The elderly woman, who weighed less than 48kg, fell and suffered a fatal brain injury. In his judgment, Justice Harrison said the need to deter other police officers from committing similar offences played "only a minor role" in his sentencing decision. But Ms Dowling argued he made a mistake by not issuing a strong warning to other officers. "(Police) occupy a trusted role in our community and they must take the utmost care to use those weapons carefully," she said. "This case required a sentence that sends a clear message that an unjustified resort to force or violence when other options are available will result in serious criminal punishment." Mrs Nowland was experiencing dementia symptoms, relied on her walking frame to move and was "extremely vulnerable" when she encountered White, the prosecutor said. The great-grandmother was holding a knife but didn't advance towards White while brandishing it and had no discernible reaction to his requests to put the blade down. "(White) did not give her any real chance to avoid being tasered," Ms Dowling said. "There were many other options available to him". Justice Harrison also made a mistake when he found the officer made a "terrible mistake" but his crime was less serious than other manslaughter offences, Ms Dowling argued. As a result, she alleges the non-custodial sentence handed to White was "plainly unjust". "The truly senseless, impatient, and violent conduct of the offender requires a sentence that gives weight to denunciation," she said. White's lawyers are expected to address the court on Friday afternoon. The loss of confidence in police after a cop fatally tasered a 95-year-old aged care resident should have been taken into account when he was spared jail for killing, a court has been told. Then-senior constable Kristian James Samuel White fired his Taser at Clare Nowland minutes after being called to the Yallambee Lodge nursing home at Cooma in southern NSW. She died in hospital a week after the incident in the early hours of May 17, 2023. The 35-year-old was handed a two-year good behaviour bond and ordered to complete community service in March after a jury found him guilty of manslaughter. The Crown quickly lodged an appeal against the "manifestly inadequate" penalty, with the state's most senior prosecutor on Friday arguing the sentencing judge made a number of errors. NSW Director of Public Prosecutions Sally Dowling argued Justice Ian Harrison should have taken into account victim impact statements from Mrs Nowland's family as evidence of the broader harm wreaked on the community. Several relatives previously told the court they had lost trust in the ability of police officers to protect vulnerable people. "It's shock, it's loss of confidence ... it's torn the fabric of society," Ms Dowling told three judges in the NSW Court of Criminal Appeal. While Justice Harrison considered the statements when assessing the objective seriousness of the manslaughter, he didn't stress the harm done to the wider community. It amounted to a mishandling of the evidence that fed into the delivery of an inadequate sentence, she argued. During a two minute and 40 second interaction, White drew his weapon and pointed it at Mrs Nowland before saying "nah, bugger it" and discharging the Taser at her chest. The elderly woman, who weighed less than 48kg, fell and suffered a fatal brain injury. In his judgment, Justice Harrison said the need to deter other police officers from committing similar offences played "only a minor role" in his sentencing decision. But Ms Dowling argued he made a mistake by not issuing a strong warning to other officers. "(Police) occupy a trusted role in our community and they must take the utmost care to use those weapons carefully," she said. "This case required a sentence that sends a clear message that an unjustified resort to force or violence when other options are available will result in serious criminal punishment." Mrs Nowland was experiencing dementia symptoms, relied on her walking frame to move and was "extremely vulnerable" when she encountered White, the prosecutor said. The great-grandmother was holding a knife but didn't advance towards White while brandishing it and had no discernible reaction to his requests to put the blade down. "(White) did not give her any real chance to avoid being tasered," Ms Dowling said. "There were many other options available to him". Justice Harrison also made a mistake when he found the officer made a "terrible mistake" but his crime was less serious than other manslaughter offences, Ms Dowling argued. As a result, she alleges the non-custodial sentence handed to White was "plainly unjust". "The truly senseless, impatient, and violent conduct of the offender requires a sentence that gives weight to denunciation," she said. White's lawyers are expected to address the court on Friday afternoon. The loss of confidence in police after a cop fatally tasered a 95-year-old aged care resident should have been taken into account when he was spared jail for killing, a court has been told. Then-senior constable Kristian James Samuel White fired his Taser at Clare Nowland minutes after being called to the Yallambee Lodge nursing home at Cooma in southern NSW. She died in hospital a week after the incident in the early hours of May 17, 2023. The 35-year-old was handed a two-year good behaviour bond and ordered to complete community service in March after a jury found him guilty of manslaughter. The Crown quickly lodged an appeal against the "manifestly inadequate" penalty, with the state's most senior prosecutor on Friday arguing the sentencing judge made a number of errors. NSW Director of Public Prosecutions Sally Dowling argued Justice Ian Harrison should have taken into account victim impact statements from Mrs Nowland's family as evidence of the broader harm wreaked on the community. Several relatives previously told the court they had lost trust in the ability of police officers to protect vulnerable people. "It's shock, it's loss of confidence ... it's torn the fabric of society," Ms Dowling told three judges in the NSW Court of Criminal Appeal. While Justice Harrison considered the statements when assessing the objective seriousness of the manslaughter, he didn't stress the harm done to the wider community. It amounted to a mishandling of the evidence that fed into the delivery of an inadequate sentence, she argued. During a two minute and 40 second interaction, White drew his weapon and pointed it at Mrs Nowland before saying "nah, bugger it" and discharging the Taser at her chest. The elderly woman, who weighed less than 48kg, fell and suffered a fatal brain injury. In his judgment, Justice Harrison said the need to deter other police officers from committing similar offences played "only a minor role" in his sentencing decision. But Ms Dowling argued he made a mistake by not issuing a strong warning to other officers. "(Police) occupy a trusted role in our community and they must take the utmost care to use those weapons carefully," she said. "This case required a sentence that sends a clear message that an unjustified resort to force or violence when other options are available will result in serious criminal punishment." Mrs Nowland was experiencing dementia symptoms, relied on her walking frame to move and was "extremely vulnerable" when she encountered White, the prosecutor said. The great-grandmother was holding a knife but didn't advance towards White while brandishing it and had no discernible reaction to his requests to put the blade down. "(White) did not give her any real chance to avoid being tasered," Ms Dowling said. "There were many other options available to him". Justice Harrison also made a mistake when he found the officer made a "terrible mistake" but his crime was less serious than other manslaughter offences, Ms Dowling argued. As a result, she alleges the non-custodial sentence handed to White was "plainly unjust". "The truly senseless, impatient, and violent conduct of the offender requires a sentence that gives weight to denunciation," she said. White's lawyers are expected to address the court on Friday afternoon.
ABC News
2 days ago
- ABC News
Appeal against 'inadequate' sentence for police officer who tasered 95yo Clare Nowland
A prosecutor has told a hearing in the NSW Court of Criminal Appeal a former police officer gave a 95-year-old grandmother "no way" to avoid being tasered. Kristian White, now 35, was found guilty of manslaughter by a Supreme Court jury last November, and in March was sentenced to a two-year community correction order and 425 hours of community service. The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions filed an appeal against the sentence on four grounds, including that it was "manifestly inadequate". The trial heard White, then a senior constable, had discharged his taser at Clare Nowland inside the Yallambee Lodge aged care facility in Cooma on May 17, 2023. Mrs Nowland, who was using a four-wheeled walker, fell, hit her head and died in Cooma Hospital a week later. Director of the Office of Public Prosecutions Sally Dowling SC today argued the sentencing judge erred in ruling White's actions fell at the lower end of objective seriousness. "This was an extremely unlawful, dangerous act," she said. Ms Dowling argued the sentence imposed did not properly take into account the victim impact statements made by members of Mrs Nowland's family, or the "broader aspect of harm" on the community. "That sense of amazement that this could happen in the community, Your Honour, is something I wish to draw [to] your attention," she said. Ms Dowling told the court police officers were entrusted with dangerous weapons. "They occupy a trusted role in our community and they must take the utmost care to use those weapons carefully," she said."This case required a sentence that sends a clear message that an unjustified resort to force or violence when other options are available will result in serious criminal punishment." During the trial, the jury heard White and another police officer responded to a triple-0 call made by Yallambee Lodge staff as the great-grandmother, armed initially with two knives, roamed the facility with her walker, entering other residents' rooms. She was later found by paramedics and police officers, including White, in a nurses' room at the facility holding one knife. After an exchange of about three minutes, during which officers tried to convince Mrs Nowland to drop the knife, White said "bugger it" and discharged his taser. Ms Dowling today told the court that was "clear evidence of his impatience of her". She said CCTV footage and police body-worn camera vision showed the great-grandmother was "frail" and "plainly incapable of moving very quickly". The hearing is being presided over by Chief Justice Andrew Bell, Justice Anthony Payne and Justice Natalie Adams.
The Advertiser
2 days ago
- The Advertiser
Great-granny given 'no chance' to avoid tasering by cop
An ex-police officer spared jail for killing a 95-year-old woman didn't give her "any real chance" to avoid being tasered during an encounter that lasted less than three minutes, a court has been told. Then-senior constable Kristian James Samuel White fired his Taser at Clare Nowland minutes after being called to the Yallambee Lodge nursing home at Cooma in southern NSW. She died in hospital a week after the incident in the early hours of May 17, 2023. The 35-year-old was handed a two-year good behaviour bond and ordered to complete community service in March after a jury found him guilty of manslaughter. Crown prosecutors appealed against the "manifestly inadequate" sentence when the case went to the NSW Court of Criminal Appeal in Sydney on Friday. Director of Public Prosecutions Sally Dowling SC argued that Supreme Court Justice Ian Harrison made a number of errors when he decided not to send White to prison. She told the court Mrs Nowland suffered symptoms of dementia and relied on her walking frame to move around the building. "All of the footage … shows how frail she was, how disorientated she was and how confused she was in the hours leading up to the events," Ms Dowling said. The great-grandmother was "extremely vulnerable" at the time because she was tired, confused, frail and moved slowly. She had no discernible reaction to his warnings or requests to drop the knife she was holding during the two minutes and 40 seconds interaction with White. "At no time did Mrs Nowland advance brandishing the knife," Ms Dowling said. She was stationary when he said "nah bugger it" and discharged the Taser at her chest, causing her to fall backwards and sustain a brain injury. "(White) did not give her any real chance to avoid being tasered," Ms Dowling said. "There were many other options available to him." Justice Harrison was wrong to conclude jailing White would be disproportionate to the seriousness of the offending. He also mistakenly found the police officer made a "terrible mistake" but his crime was less serious than other manslaughter offences, prosecutors claim. In his judgment, Justice Harrison decided the need to deter other police officers from committing similar offences played "only a minor role" in his sentencing decision. But Ms Dowling believes he should have issued a strong warning to other police. Mrs Nowland's eldest son Michael slammed the sentence as "very disappointing" when it was handed down. "A slap on the wrist for someone who's killed our mother - it's very, very hard to process that," he said. Mrs Nowland's family attended every day of White's trial and returned to fill rows of the public gallery during the appeal, which continues on Friday. An ex-police officer spared jail for killing a 95-year-old woman didn't give her "any real chance" to avoid being tasered during an encounter that lasted less than three minutes, a court has been told. Then-senior constable Kristian James Samuel White fired his Taser at Clare Nowland minutes after being called to the Yallambee Lodge nursing home at Cooma in southern NSW. She died in hospital a week after the incident in the early hours of May 17, 2023. The 35-year-old was handed a two-year good behaviour bond and ordered to complete community service in March after a jury found him guilty of manslaughter. Crown prosecutors appealed against the "manifestly inadequate" sentence when the case went to the NSW Court of Criminal Appeal in Sydney on Friday. Director of Public Prosecutions Sally Dowling SC argued that Supreme Court Justice Ian Harrison made a number of errors when he decided not to send White to prison. She told the court Mrs Nowland suffered symptoms of dementia and relied on her walking frame to move around the building. "All of the footage … shows how frail she was, how disorientated she was and how confused she was in the hours leading up to the events," Ms Dowling said. The great-grandmother was "extremely vulnerable" at the time because she was tired, confused, frail and moved slowly. She had no discernible reaction to his warnings or requests to drop the knife she was holding during the two minutes and 40 seconds interaction with White. "At no time did Mrs Nowland advance brandishing the knife," Ms Dowling said. She was stationary when he said "nah bugger it" and discharged the Taser at her chest, causing her to fall backwards and sustain a brain injury. "(White) did not give her any real chance to avoid being tasered," Ms Dowling said. "There were many other options available to him." Justice Harrison was wrong to conclude jailing White would be disproportionate to the seriousness of the offending. He also mistakenly found the police officer made a "terrible mistake" but his crime was less serious than other manslaughter offences, prosecutors claim. In his judgment, Justice Harrison decided the need to deter other police officers from committing similar offences played "only a minor role" in his sentencing decision. But Ms Dowling believes he should have issued a strong warning to other police. Mrs Nowland's eldest son Michael slammed the sentence as "very disappointing" when it was handed down. "A slap on the wrist for someone who's killed our mother - it's very, very hard to process that," he said. Mrs Nowland's family attended every day of White's trial and returned to fill rows of the public gallery during the appeal, which continues on Friday. An ex-police officer spared jail for killing a 95-year-old woman didn't give her "any real chance" to avoid being tasered during an encounter that lasted less than three minutes, a court has been told. Then-senior constable Kristian James Samuel White fired his Taser at Clare Nowland minutes after being called to the Yallambee Lodge nursing home at Cooma in southern NSW. She died in hospital a week after the incident in the early hours of May 17, 2023. The 35-year-old was handed a two-year good behaviour bond and ordered to complete community service in March after a jury found him guilty of manslaughter. Crown prosecutors appealed against the "manifestly inadequate" sentence when the case went to the NSW Court of Criminal Appeal in Sydney on Friday. Director of Public Prosecutions Sally Dowling SC argued that Supreme Court Justice Ian Harrison made a number of errors when he decided not to send White to prison. She told the court Mrs Nowland suffered symptoms of dementia and relied on her walking frame to move around the building. "All of the footage … shows how frail she was, how disorientated she was and how confused she was in the hours leading up to the events," Ms Dowling said. The great-grandmother was "extremely vulnerable" at the time because she was tired, confused, frail and moved slowly. She had no discernible reaction to his warnings or requests to drop the knife she was holding during the two minutes and 40 seconds interaction with White. "At no time did Mrs Nowland advance brandishing the knife," Ms Dowling said. She was stationary when he said "nah bugger it" and discharged the Taser at her chest, causing her to fall backwards and sustain a brain injury. "(White) did not give her any real chance to avoid being tasered," Ms Dowling said. "There were many other options available to him." Justice Harrison was wrong to conclude jailing White would be disproportionate to the seriousness of the offending. He also mistakenly found the police officer made a "terrible mistake" but his crime was less serious than other manslaughter offences, prosecutors claim. In his judgment, Justice Harrison decided the need to deter other police officers from committing similar offences played "only a minor role" in his sentencing decision. But Ms Dowling believes he should have issued a strong warning to other police. Mrs Nowland's eldest son Michael slammed the sentence as "very disappointing" when it was handed down. "A slap on the wrist for someone who's killed our mother - it's very, very hard to process that," he said. Mrs Nowland's family attended every day of White's trial and returned to fill rows of the public gallery during the appeal, which continues on Friday. An ex-police officer spared jail for killing a 95-year-old woman didn't give her "any real chance" to avoid being tasered during an encounter that lasted less than three minutes, a court has been told. Then-senior constable Kristian James Samuel White fired his Taser at Clare Nowland minutes after being called to the Yallambee Lodge nursing home at Cooma in southern NSW. She died in hospital a week after the incident in the early hours of May 17, 2023. The 35-year-old was handed a two-year good behaviour bond and ordered to complete community service in March after a jury found him guilty of manslaughter. Crown prosecutors appealed against the "manifestly inadequate" sentence when the case went to the NSW Court of Criminal Appeal in Sydney on Friday. Director of Public Prosecutions Sally Dowling SC argued that Supreme Court Justice Ian Harrison made a number of errors when he decided not to send White to prison. She told the court Mrs Nowland suffered symptoms of dementia and relied on her walking frame to move around the building. "All of the footage … shows how frail she was, how disorientated she was and how confused she was in the hours leading up to the events," Ms Dowling said. The great-grandmother was "extremely vulnerable" at the time because she was tired, confused, frail and moved slowly. She had no discernible reaction to his warnings or requests to drop the knife she was holding during the two minutes and 40 seconds interaction with White. "At no time did Mrs Nowland advance brandishing the knife," Ms Dowling said. She was stationary when he said "nah bugger it" and discharged the Taser at her chest, causing her to fall backwards and sustain a brain injury. "(White) did not give her any real chance to avoid being tasered," Ms Dowling said. "There were many other options available to him." Justice Harrison was wrong to conclude jailing White would be disproportionate to the seriousness of the offending. He also mistakenly found the police officer made a "terrible mistake" but his crime was less serious than other manslaughter offences, prosecutors claim. In his judgment, Justice Harrison decided the need to deter other police officers from committing similar offences played "only a minor role" in his sentencing decision. But Ms Dowling believes he should have issued a strong warning to other police. Mrs Nowland's eldest son Michael slammed the sentence as "very disappointing" when it was handed down. "A slap on the wrist for someone who's killed our mother - it's very, very hard to process that," he said. Mrs Nowland's family attended every day of White's trial and returned to fill rows of the public gallery during the appeal, which continues on Friday.
