Key Points
- A 33-year old police officer tasered the 95-year-old woman at an aged care facility.
- Clare Nowland was a dementia patient.
- The police officer will face court on three charges including recklessly causing grievous bodily harm.
A 95-year-old grandmother has died a week after being tasered at a nursing home, with a police officer charged over the incident.
Clare Nowland was using a walking frame when she was allegedly tasered by a senior constable at the Yallambee Lodge aged care facility in Cooma a week ago, after failing to drop a steak knife.
The dementia patient, who weighed just 43 kg, received end-of-life care after sustaining critical injuries, including a fractured skull.
She died in hospital on Wednesday.
"Mrs Nowland passed away peacefully in hospital just after 7pm this evening, surrounded by family and loved ones who have requested privacy during this sad and difficult time," NSW Police said in a statement.
"Our thoughts and condolences remain with those who were lucky enough to know, love, and be loved by Mrs Nowland during a life she led hallmarked by family, kindness and community."
The 33-year-old officer 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.
The officer, who remains suspended from duty with pay, is due to appear at Cooma Local Court on 5 July.
Police Commissioner Karen Webb said it was "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," she told reporters on Wednesday evening.
She defended the decision to suspend the officer 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.
Commissioner 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.
Earlier in parliament, senior Liberal MP Damien Tudehope called on the government to release vision captured on the two attending officers' body cameras, saying Mrs Nowland's treatment was of grave concern.
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."
The NSW Greens and an independent MP are calling on the government to establish a parliamentary inquiry into NSW Police.
Greens MP Sue Higginson will demand a fully independent investigation and bring the issue to the floor of the NSW parliament on Tuesday.
The incident revealed "how desperately we need police reform" and the government needed to ensure there was not a "culture of impunity" in the police force, Ms Higginson said.
The investigation into the tasering incident is being led by the homicide squad and the Professional Standards Committee of NSW Police, and overseen by the independent Law Enforcement Conduct Commission.
