Disgraced ex-cop Kristian White launches legal action against NSW Police to get job back

Former police officer Kristian White is returning once again to court, but this time to defend his job.

The former constable was sacked by NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb earlier this month after he was found guilty of the manslaughter death of 95-year-old Clare Nowland at a nursing home in May last year.

The great-grandmother died after Mr White, then a constable with the police, tasered her at the Yallambee Lodge in Cooma.

Mr White faced an eight-day trial in the NSW Supreme Court in November after pleading not guilty to manslaughter.

The four women and eight men of the jury deliberated for four days before finding Mr White guilty in late November of unlawfully killing Mrs Nowland either by way of criminal negligence or a dangerous or criminal act.

On December 3, Commissioner White dismissed Mr White from the Force.

“Today I have determined that I do not have confidence in the officer’s suitability to continue as a police officer,” Commissioner Webb said in a statement at the time.

“Accordingly, I have removed him from the NSW Police Force and he has been advised via his legal counsel.”

On Monday it was revealed Mr White had launched legal action against Commissioner Webb with the state’s Industrial Relations Commission.

Mr White’s hearing, with the case name Kristian James Samuel White v Commissioner of Police, is listed for December 19 at 2pm.

“NSW Police have been advised a former officer who was attached to Monaro PD, has filed in the Industrial Relations Commission of New South Wales an application for review under s 181E of the Police Act 1990,” NSW police said in a statement on Monday.

“Given the matter is before the IRC no further comment can be made.”

White had been suspended with pay throughout the court proceedings and his pay was revoked the day after the jury returned a unanimous guilty verdict.

The jury heard he issued several warnings as she approached him with both hands on her walking frame and holding a knife, before he said “bugger it” and fired the weapon at her.

Mrs Nowland fell backwards and struck her head on the floor, sustaining critical injuries.

She died from her injuries a week later.