The New South Wales police officer who tasered an elderly grandmother and left her fighting for her life is now facing charges of assault.
Senior Constable Kristian White, 33, who is attached to Monaro Police District, will face court for recklessly causing grievous bodily harm, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and common assault.
The most serious of the charges, recklessly causing grievous bodily harm, carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.
Clare Nowland, 95, was using a walking frame when she was tasered by police at Yallambee Lodge aged-care facility in Cooma a week ago, after allegedly failing to drop a steak knife.
The dementia patient is now receiving end-of-life care after sustaining critical injuries.
When asked at a press conference on Wednesday night if the charges might be upgraded, Police Commissioner Karen Webb said that was possible but it depended on what happens.
She described the tasering as “a nasty incident” but maintained the investigation had been carried out properly and without being prejudiced.
“I am confident that … this matter is before the court without interference,” Ms Webb said.
She defended the decision to suspend Senior Constable White with pay, saying people are innocent until proven guilty in NSW.
“He’s afforded the same opportunity as any other resident and his employment will continue to be reviewed, but at the moment he’s still suspended from the workplace,” she said.
Ms Webb has been under pressure over her handling of the incident after saying she would not watch the video until all the evidence for the investigation was gathered.
The officer, who remains suspended from duty with pay, is due to appear at Cooma Local Court on July 5.
The news comes hours after the state opposition in the NSW parliament asked that confronting footage of a frail great-grandmother being tasered by police could soon be made public.
The motion passed, however references to bodyworn vision were removed, making the result largely symbolic.
The government opposed the motion, with Treasurer Daniel Mookhey later saying “no one should be should be politicising what has proven to be very difficult circumstances for all involved”.
-AAP
