A 95-year-old grandmother who was tasered at her nursing home by police in Australia is fighting for her life.
The disturbing incident has left mother-of-eight and dementia sufferer Clare Nowland recovering from critical injuries, with her family expressing an opinion that they are now expecting her to die as a result, The Mirror reports.
Police officers claimed Clare was "armed with a steak knife" and confronted police "slowly" with a walking aid, when they tasered her inside the Yallambee Lodge aged care home in Cooma, New South Wales [NSW].
Assistant Commissioner Peter Cotter revealed the incident was caught on bodycam footage and is now part of a critical incident investigation led by homicide squad detectives. They said the critical injuries resulted from her head hitting the floor.
The incident ignited global outrage and calls have been growing for a debate about NSW state police's use of taser-brand conducted energy devices or stun guns.
Cotter declined to say whether he thought a police officer with 12 years' experience had used excessive force by firing a stun gun twice at a 5ft 2ins and 6.7st "much-loved" elderly woman.
He said: "At the time she was tasered, she was approaching police. But it is fair to say at a slow pace. She had a walking frame. But she had a knife. I can't take it any further as to what was going through anyone's mind."
Her family claim she was buttering toast at the time the police arrived, in the early hours of the morning.
Cotter said the police officer who fired the stun gun was currently "not in the workplace," but it is unclear whether the officer has been suspended.
NSW Deputy Premier Prue Car said what occurred was "very concerning".
"Obviously, our thoughts go out to the family of this woman that has gone through a pretty horrific situation," she said.
Patrick McGrath, the director of community engagement at St Vincent de Paul – the charity where Clare volunteered locally for 50 years – has known Clare his whole life and told 2GB’s Ben Fordham on Friday that the family was devastated by what happened.
He said: "She was always doing something for the community, always all her life she was active. It doesn’t look good."
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