NSW Premier Chris Minns has backed the state’s police and his own embattled police minister following the revelation crucial details about a fatal tasering incident were withheld from the public.
Clare Nowland, 95, died in hospital days after she was allegedly tasered by senior constable Kristian White in a Cooma aged care home on May 17.
New documents released this week reveal that the first press release sent more than 12 hours after the critical incident did not mention that a taser was used.
Premier Chris Minns said he would be standing by both the police force and Police Minister Yasmin Catley, saying he was confident the “troubling incident” was taken “very seriously from the beginning”.
“There was a critical incident report immediately and eventually NSW Police charged a serving NSW police officer with very serious crimes,” he said.
“So, the context of the suggestions around a cover-up need to be seen in the full context of the inquiry.”
It took two days before a second release detailed that a senior constable had “discharged a taser”.
It has since been revealed that the taser was included in a draft of the press release but was later removed, according to freedom of information documents obtained by Australian Associated Press.
On Wednesday, the opposition police spokesman Paul Toole urged the Premier “consider the position” of Ms Catley over her handling of the incident.
When asked if she was aware of the draft release in Question Time on Wednesday, Ms Catley initially said she was unaware.
“Mr Speaker, it was the first I heard about the information,” Ms Catley said.
“(I would) like to make it very clear that it was the first I’d heard of an earlier more detailed draft”.
The Premier said there is “no evidence that anything else is being withheld from the NSW public” and that he is satisfied with Police Commissioner’s reasons for omitting the information.
“It was mainly to do with notifying Ms Nowland‘s extended family so they didn’t find out about her death from the media,” Minns said.
“I think that that’s justifiable under the circumstances.”
The Law Enforcement Conduct Commission has overseen the investigation run by Homicide Squad detectives.
Mr White will face court next month after he was charged with recklessly causing grievous bodily harm, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and common assault.