Senior Constable Kristian White, 34, has pleaded not guilty to the manslaughter of Clare Nowland, who he tasered at the 40-bed Yallambee Lodge aged care facility, in Cooma, 114km south of Canberra, on May 17, 2023.
The great-grandmother, who was living with dementia, was using a walker and holding a knife when she was tasered.
She fell and hit her head, sustaining injuries equivalent to blunt force trauma, and died in Cooma Hospital a week later from an inoperable brain bleed.
On day eight of the NSW Supreme Court trial, Justice Ian Harrison told the 12-person jury that some elements of the case were not in dispute.
He said Senior Constable White (pictured below) did not deny deploying the taser, but did deny the allegation his actions were unlawful in his role as a police officer.
Crown prosecutor Brett Hatfield SC suggested to the jury the accused had become "fed up" or "impatient" by the incident, highlighting the fact he said the words "bugger it" before deploying the taser.
Defence barrister Troy Edwards SC argued the police officer made efforts to negotiate with the resident verbally prior to tasering her.
The jury has now retired to consider its verdict in the case. Watch this space.
