Senior Constable Kristian James Samuel White, 34, was found guilty of the manslaughter of 95-year-old Clare Nowland after he used a Taser on her in a nursing home in Cooma, New South Wales.

The jury deliberated for four days before concluding that White's actions constituted unlawful killing, rejecting the defense's argument that his response was proportionate to the threat posed by Nowland.

Evidence presented during the trial included testimony from a nurse and footage from CCTV and body-worn cameras, which showed no imminent threat from Nowland at the time of the Taser deployment.

The case has sparked discussions about Taser use by police in New South Wales, especially in situations involving vulnerable individuals, leading to widespread outrage and calls for an investigation.

White faced media scrutiny as he left the New South Wales Supreme Court, where he received the verdict, with his bail continued until sentencing.

Clare Nowland, who passed away in the hospital seven days after the incident, is survived by a large family, including eight children, 24 grandchildren, and 31 great-grandchildren.

The court heard that police training advises against using Tasers on elderly or disabled individuals unless exceptional circumstances exist, a guideline that White was not specifically trained on.

Testimony indicated that while responders felt threatened, they agreed that none were in immediate danger from Nowland at the time, who was described as frail and weighing less than 50 kilograms.

The court heard that Nowland had thrown a knife at staff before being cornered by police and paramedics, but she was alone in a treatment room with a steak knife and was described as using a walker.

Expert testimony revealed that Nowland had moderate to severe dementia, affecting her ability to understand the situation or comply with instructions.

Following the verdict, White's employment is under review, and there are ongoing legal processes regarding his actions, with a sentencing hearing scheduled for February 2025.

NSW Greens justice spokesperson Sue Higginson criticized the legal defense of reasonable force, highlighting a flawed police perspective on using force against vulnerable individuals.