The family of a 95-year-old Australian great-grandmother who died in May after being shocked by a police officer with an electric shock device is suing the government for damages.
Clare Nowland, who suffered from dementia, died on May 24 after being shocked with an electric shock device at the Yallambee Lodge care home in Cooma, about 114km south of Canberra.
The elderly woman fell due to the shock and suffered a fractured skull.
Sam Tierney, the family’s lawyer, confirmed the family had launched a civil damages claim against the New South Wales Government for the alleged assault of Nowland.
“The family does not wish to comment at this stage, given the ongoing criminal case,” Tierney said.
A pre-trial conference for the civil case will take place on August 24 at the Bega District Court.
A 33-year-old senior police constable has been charged with, among other things, assault with intent to seriously injure and is expected to appear in court on September 6.
RNews earlier reported that staff from the Yallambee Lodge care home called police after Nowland wandered around with a knife in her hand at around 04:00.
Police officers reportedly warned Nowland to drop the knife. This is when Nowland moved “at a slow pace” with her walking frame towards the police officers and one of the officers shocked her with the shock device.
