Officer charged with fatal tasering causes chaos in court
A magistrate has expressed his "absolute disgust" after the NSW police officer charged with the fatal tasering of a 95-year-old failed to show up in person for court.
Kristian White, 33, appeared via audiovisual link in Cooma Local Court on Wednesday after being charged with discharging his weapon at Clare Nowland, a dementia patient at an aged care facility in Cooma, who fell backwards from the tasering and sustained fatal injuries.
As the virtual court began, Magistrate Roger Clisdell blasted the crown prosecutor’s decision to allow the suspended police officer to appear via a video link.
“Who runs this court, Ms Stuart? You or me?” he asked crown prosecutor Sally Stuart in a raised voice.
He said he felt “absolute disgust” that the decision had blindsided him, which meant that “dumbo here sitting on the bench just has to suck it up.”
The magistrate went on to note that the court had employed several extra security personnel “at great expense” in anticipation of the highly publicised appearance, given the media storm surrounding Ms Nowland's death.
There was no reason given as to why Mr White didn't show up for court in person, given he is currently living in the community under no restrictions.
In a confusing move, Ms Stuart asked the court to impose a condition which would compel him to appear in court in future.
Mr Clisdell blasted the hypocritical application, asking, “You excused him today, so why should I put him at your beck and call, not mine?”
Ms Stuart eventually conceded that police should have imposed bail conditions on Mr White when he was charged with the serious offences.
“It is probably something that should have been considered at the time but that decision was made by police,” she said.
Mr White’s lawyer Warwick Anderson opposed the request for his client to be placed on bail, telling the court it had no “meaningful efficacy”.
Despite the magistrate's previous outrage, he agreed and branded the crown application an attempt to placate anyone who might be “upset” about the officer’s lack of restrictions.
He declined to impose bail on the 33-year-old and said he would be excused from attending court on the next occasion.
Mr White maintained a blank face as he listened to the Magistrate’s tirade from an undisclosed location.
The matter will return to court in September and it will be managed by the DPP.
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