Key Points
- Clare Nowland, 95, was tasered during a confrontation with police on 17 May.
- The mother-of-eight, who had dementia, died a week later in hospital.
- Police had reportedly slashed a much-longer draft that included several key details, including the use of the Taser.
Chris Minns has rejected calls to sack his police minister after it was revealed key details were slashed from a public statement on the tasering of a 95-year-old great-grandmother.
Clare Nowland was tasered during a confrontation with police while walking with a frame and holding a steak knife at the Yallambee Lodge in Cooma on May 17.
The mother of eight, who had dementia, died a week later in hospital.
A 71-word press release approved by Police Commissioner Karen Webb was issued 12 hours after Mrs Nowland was injured, but it provided scant detail about her death during an "interaction with police".
"No further details are available at this time," it said.
Documents obtained by AAP under Freedom of Information laws reveal the statement was published after police culled a much longer draft that included key details including the use of the Taser, the presence of paramedics and Mrs Nowland's possession of a knife.
"When she stood up and moved towards officers, a Taser was deployed by a constable," one of the lines in the 171-word draft prepared by the force's media unit said.
Minster denies knowledge of statement draft
Police Minister Yasmin Catley told parliament on Tuesday she did not know about the more detailed draft until the opposition raised AAP's report in question time.
She said Ms Webb had been up-front about the reason for the brief press release, which was to ensure Mrs Nowland's large family could be informed about the circumstances of her death.
After issuing the initial release, police did not make further statements until detailed media reports emerged more than 36 hours after the tasering.
The minister's ignorance about the draft release called into question her competence and fitness to remain in the job, Opposition Leader Mark Speakman said.
"It's extraordinary that a police minister discovers this issue when it's reported in the press today and we asked about it," he said.
"She should be proactive in seeking briefs."
NSW premier defends police minister
Mr Minns rubbished the comments, saying the public already knew why all the details about the incident were not initially disclosed.
"I don't believe it's substantial enough to remove the minister from her portfolio and I think reasonable people would (agree)," he said.
Mr Minns said the police explanation was reasonable given the circumstances and he would be concerned if the initial investigation into the death had been compromised.
The draft statement noted the woman was treated by paramedics at the scene and left space for her latest hospital condition to be included.
The published statement omitted both details, stating her condition was "being monitored" in hospital.
The officer's job being placed under review was also removed.
Mrs Nowland was not named in either version, as per standard police procedure.
Five days after the tasering, Ms Webb said the 36-hour time window was used to inform Mrs Nowland's family, who deserved to learn about the incident via police rather than the media.
Her comments that day did not reveal the omissions had extended beyond the mention of a taser being deployed by police.
Ms Webb reiterated her position in an interview on Wednesday, saying there had been no police cover-up.
"It was important that the family heard it from us directly," she told Sydney radio station 2GB.
Clare Nowland was tasered during a confrontation with police while walking with a frame and holding a steak knife at the Yallambee Lodge in Cooma on May 17. Source: Supplied
Police's approach was 'consistent with NSW Police policies'
NSW Police said content and timing of information released to the media following the incident considered the extended Nowland family, the gravity of the situation and the fact a critical investigation team was not on the ground until that evening.
"Our priority was to ensure family members learned details of the incident directly from police rather than third parties and to ensure the integrity of the investigation," a spokeswoman said in a statement.
"The approach taken was consistent with NSW Police policies."
The officer who fired the stun weapon, Senior Constable Kristian White, has been suspended with pay and charged with three offences, including recklessly causing grievous bodily harm.
The 33-year-old is due to appear in a Cooma court on July 5.
