The 95-year old Australian woman who died on Wednesday was shot by a officer with a stungun a week earlier in a nursing facility as she approached him while using a walker.
Clare Nowland was hospitalized after her skull fractured on May 17, when she fell from a height following a shock by Constable Kristian white.
The police announced Nowland’s death just hours after reporting White had been ordered to appear before a court on the 5th of July on charges including assault causing actual bodily injury, recklessly causing bodily damage, and simple assault. After her death, the charges will likely be upgraded.
White and another officer went to Yallambee Lodge in Cooma, which specializes in residents who have higher care needs, including dementia. Staff had reported that Nowland took a serrated knife from the kitchen.
The violent attack on an elderly woman who was incapacitated has ignited a national discussion about the use of stun weapons by police in such situations and the competency of aged care staff. The police are allowed to use stun weapons when lives are at risk.
The cause of death will be determined by a coroner. The police claim that her injuries were caused by falling on the floor and not the electric shock from the Taser stun gun.
White is currently under investigation by the police for his role in the incident. He has been suspended with pay from work since Tuesday.
White and his partner from the day had images of the incident on their body cameras but the police refused to release them.
The government that was elected a year earlier is increasing funding for aged care.
