Home | News | Police officer charged with manslaughter of Clare Nowland ordered to hand over passport
Senior constable Kristian White has been charged with manslaughter of 95-year-old Clare Nowland, who died after being tasered in a Cooma nursing home. Picture: NCA NewsWire

Police officer charged with manslaughter of Clare Nowland ordered to hand over passport

The NSW Senior Constable responsible for the alleged taser death of a 95-year-old aged care resident has been deemed a flight risk and ordered to hand over his passport.

Senior Constable Kristian James Samuel White had his charges upgraded to manslaughter at Cooma Local Court after allegedly recklessly tasering Clare Nowland in her aged care residence.

Ms Nowland had been suffering an episode when Senior Constable White allegedly tasered her on May 17.

She died a week later in hospital.

Senior Constable White appeared in person for the first time on Wednesday since charges against him were upgraded to manslaughter.

The ABC reported Cooma Local Court Magistrate Roger Clisdell continued Senior Constable White's bail but ordered his passport to be surrendered and not leave the country due to the charge.

In June, Magistrate Clisdell criticised the DPP for failing to tell him Senior Constable White would appear via video link without the court's consent.

"We've got a court full of security, at great expense, and the DPP decided he would appear via video link," he said during the June hearing.

"Who runs the court, [the DPP] or me?"

During the most recent hearing, Magistrate Clisdell criticised the Crown prosecution and Senior Constable White's defence lawyer again for negotiating bail terms without his input.

"It's good to know I'm treated with a tiny bit of respect," he sarcastically told the court.

"You think my last explosion would make the DPP a bit more sensitive to my position."

On Wednesday, Crown Prosecutor Victoria Garrity told the court there would be "a heightened risk" that Senior Constable White would not appear in court.

"The manslaughter charge is now before the court [and] it's a very serious charge," she said.

"Accused people facing more serious matters do sometimes leave the jurisdiction."

Senior Constable White's lawyer Warwick Anderson agreed with the varied bail conditions but said he had no intention of leaving the country.

Magistrate Clisdell adjourned the matter to Cooma Local Court on February 7 next year.

Senior Constable White remains suspended from duty with pay.

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