A police chief has defended her decision not to watch the "confronting" video of a 95-year-old grandmother being tasered in Australia.
In the early hours of the morning last week, at the council-run Yallambee Lodge aged care facility, police tasered Clare Nowland twice.
They say she posed a risk to their safety as she was stood with a knife.
The mother of eight and dementia sufferer, who weighs under seven stone, was advancing on them at a "slow pace" with a walking frame, but also holding a serrated steak knife, according to police.
Officers felt so threatened by her that they felt the need to taser her, forcing her to fall back, smashing her head, and leaving her with critical injuries.
She has been in the hospital since and her family expect her to soon die. They believe she may have been buttering toast, hence wielding a knife.
Body-cam footage captured the whole ordeal, but police say they will not release it as it forms a crucial part of their investigation.
Police Commissioner Karen Webb said she did not plan on watching the footage before all other statements and evidence were collated.
"It may be the case in the future where I have to make a determination based on a brief of evidence, without being tainted by having seen a part of the brief without context", she told Sydney Radio 2GB on Monday.
She continued: "I’m ... a daughter of someone with dementia and in aged care and I think it’s hugely concerning, but I need to be objective."
The initial statement released by New South Wales police failed to mention tasering and only revealed there had been an "interaction" between the great-grandmother and police.
2GB Radio host Ben Fordham pressed Webb on why they had informed the public on what really happened and whether they were "'hiding something that might be embarrassing or shameful for the police?"
Webb replied: "The Nowland family deserve to learn from police what happened rather than hear about it in the media."
Fordham said he believed it was her duty to watch what unfolded: "You're the most senior officer in New South Wales, you will make the final decision about whether this officer remains in the force, I know it's not going to be pretty but in the end, I think it's your duty to watch it, commissioner."
Cooma’s local parish priest, Mark Croker, who knows Clare and the family well said he was left "gobsmacked" when he heard the news.
He told Guardian Australia: "[She is] A very nice lady, a deeply appreciative lady for whenever I visited her, a very respectful lady, and one who the church community here held in very high regard."
Bronnie Taylor, a resident of the Cooma region and deputy leader of the New South Wales Nationals party, said the mood in the tight-knit town was sombre.
The senior constable, with 12 years of experience, who tasered Clare has been taken off duty and his duty status is under review.
The critical incident investigation has been elevated to "level one" because Clare suffered an injury that could lead to her death.
Detectives from the State Homicide Squad and Law Enforcement Conduct Commission are investigating what happened and if the force used was appropriate.
