The incident has prompted calls for police reform in Australia. (Representative)
Sydney, Australia:
A 95-year-old great-grandmother died on Wednesday, a week after being stabbed by an Australian police officer inside her nursing home, police said.
Claire Nowland was in a critical condition in hospital after being shot with an electronic stun gun in a confrontation on May 17 that shocked Australians and made international headlines.
“It is with great sadness that we confirm the passing of 95-year-old Claire Nowland in Cooma tonight,” New South Wales state police said in a statement.
He said he died “peacefully” in hospital surrounded by family and loved ones.
Police say Noland had 24 grandchildren and 31 great-grandchildren.
Hours earlier, a 33-year-old senior constable was charged with negligently causing grievous bodily harm, assault causing actual bodily harm and common assault over the incident.
The suspended policeman will be produced in the court on July 5.
Police Commissioner Karen Webb said Nowland’s family had been informed of the “serious allegations”, and thanked detectives for acting quickly after the “serious incident”.
Officers were called to Yallambee Lodge Nursing Home in southern New South Wales by staff who told them a woman was “armed with a knife”.
‘Slow motion’
Police say he urged Nowland to drop a serrated steak knife before moving toward them “slowly” with his walking frame, prompting an officer to fire his Taser at him.
The incident has prompted a New South Wales parliamentary inquiry and the release of police bodycam video of the confrontation.
State Greens MP Sue Higginson said this week: “Ms Nowland’s molestation has sparked a community outcry, which shows how desperately we need police reform.”
“Refusing to release bodycam footage shields NSW Police from public inquiry for all the wrong reasons – the NSW community has a right to know what really happened when Claire Nowland was tased, so we must take the necessary steps to change that.” can start.”
Police have said they do not plan to release the video of the police body-worn Tasring.
The state police commissioner said over the weekend, “We do not intend to release it unless there is a process on their end that would allow it to be released.”
Webb said that at the time he had only heard the audio from the recording: “I don’t feel the need to actually watch it.”
He said police may need to be “better equipped” to deal with dementia patients.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)