A court ruled that a trial will be held before the year ends for a police officer who was accused of killing an elderly woman after he used a stun gun on her at a care facility in NSW.
Kristian White, who was 33 years old at the time of the incident, pleaded not guilty to the manslaughter charge during his appearance in Sydney’s NSW Supreme Court.
He is charged with killing Clare Nowland, 95, on May 17 2023.
The 95-year-old woman, who weighed around 43 kilograms and had dementia, fell after she was hit by the stun gun.
Peter Gow, White’s lawyer, asked for the trial to be delayed until 2025.
However, Justice Helen Wilson refused to grant the request and stated that the court could accommodate the case in November.
Gow noted that the case would have to be briefed by another lawyer due to the earlier trial date.
White will remain on bail while he waits for his trial to start on November 11.
According to investigators, the police were called to the nursing home after seeing Nowland holding a steak knife.
She was then asked by staff and paramedics to put the knife down before she was tased.
She was then taken to the Cooma Hospital, but she passed away on May 24.
At first, White was charged with various offenses, including common assault and assault occasioning bodily harm.
In November, the DPP advised that a manslaughter charge should be brought against White.
The manslaughter charge carries a maximum sentence of 25 years imprisonment, which is significantly higher than the 10-year sentence for recklessly causing harm.