A senior constable accused of unlawfully killing a 95-year-old dementia patient at a NSW aged-care home cursed before tasering her, a jury has been told.
A police officer cursed before tasering a 95-year-old aged-care patient with dementia as she approached him with a steak knife, a jury has heard.
Senior Constable Kristian James Samuel White appeared in the NSW Supreme Court on Monday, when he pleaded not guilty to manslaughter in front of a jury panel.
The 34-year-old is alleged to have used a Taser on great-grandmother Clare Nowland at the Yallambee Lodge aged-care home in the southern NSW town of Cooma in the early hours of May 17, 2023.
He visited the facility with his partner after receiving reports that an 鈥渁ggressive鈥 patient was raising a steak knife at staff, prosecutor Brett Hatfield SC said.
The 95-year-old had dementia and used a four-wheeled walking frame, and had raised the knife several times in front of the two officers, the jury heard.
White issued several warnings before saying 鈥渂ugger it鈥 and discharging his weapon, Hatfield said.
Nowland hit her head on the floor when she fell and had an inoperable bleed on the brain, dying at Cooma Hospital a week after the incident.
鈥淎re you guilty or not guilty?鈥 Justice Ian Harrison鈥檚 associate asked as White was formally arraigned on Monday.
鈥淣ot guilty, your Honour,鈥 the officer replied.
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White鈥檚 partner supported him in court while a large number of Nowland鈥檚 family were also in attendance.
The trial continues.
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