Disgraced cop Kristian White’s surprise move after he was found guilty of Tasering Clare Nowland and booted from his job

The disgraced former policeman who was sacked after he was found guilty of Tasering a 95-year-old great grandmother has launched legal action against his former employer.

Kristian White, 34, has made an application to the Industrial Relations Commission after his Senior Constable role was terminated by NSW Police last month.

White was found guilty of manslaughter by a 12-person jury on November 27 for the death of Clare Nowland.

The officer fatally Tasered the great grandmother on May 17, 2023, causing her to fall to the floor and fracture her skull.

Ms Nowland used a four-wheeled walker and was holding a knife at the time of her confrontation with White. She died in Cooma Hospital a week later.

White was suspended with pay for 18 months before he was convicted of manslaughter, after which he was suspended without pay.

A week later, NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb announced that White had been removed from the force.

She stated she did not ‘…have confidence in the officer’s suitability to continue as a police officer in line with the procedure mandated under the Police Act 1990 section 181D.’

On Monday, a NSW spokesperson said it was ‘advised a former officer who was attached to Monaro PD, has filed … an application for review under s 181E of the Police Act 1990’.

The Industrial Relations Commission application was filed against Commissioner Webb.

Section 181E refers to a former officer’s right to review the decision to remove them from the force.

‘A police officer who is removed from the NSW Police Force by an order under section 181D may apply to the Industrial Relations Commission for a review of the order on the ground that the removal is harsh, unreasonable or unjust,’ the Act states.

White’s application to get his old job back is listed to go before the Industrial Relations Commission this Thursday (December 19).

In footage played at his NSW Supreme Court trial, White was heard saying ‘nah, bugger it’ before Tasering Mrs Nowland in the torso at the Yallambee Lodge aged care home in the southern NSW town of Cooma during the early hours of May 17, 2023.

The 95-year-old, who was holding a steak knife at the time, fell backwards and hit her head.

The court heard Constable White and Acting Sergeant Jessica Pank were called to the facility in response to a triple-0 call claiming a ‘very aggressive resident’ was holding two knives.

Mrs Nowland had entered the rooms of four residents prior to the officers’ arrival shortly before 5am. The grandmother had thrown a knife at a staff member.

White faces up to 25 years behind bars but was allowed to walk free from court ahead of his sentencing in February.

‘So that there’s no secret about it, I will not commit a policeman to custody until I understand the conditions under which he will be held, if he is to be held,’ Justice Ian Harrison said at the time.

The Crown has applied for White to be jailed.

Mrs Nowland is survived by eight children, 24 grandchildren and 30 great-grandchildren.

Several family members travelled from the NSW Snowy Mountains to Sydney for the trial and said they were ‘very happy’ with the jury’s verdict.

‘The family would like to thank the judge and jury for carefully considering the matter and the DPP prosecution team for their hard work,’ the lawyer said outside court.

‘The family will take some time to come to terms with the jury’s confirmation that Clare’s death at the hands of a serving NSW police officer was a criminal and unjustified act.’