An Australian police officer has recently been charged with manslaughter over the death of a 95-year-old woman who was Tasered in a nursing home.
On Sunday, October 4th, an elderly woman, referred to in the court documents as “M.S.”, passed away after police officers attempted to restrain her using a Taser. A police statement reported that officers had been called to the nursing home after a physical altercation between the woman and a staff member.
In an emotional moment for the public, prosecutors announced that the responsible police officer, who has not been publicly named yet, would be charged with manslaughter due to her involvement in the elderly woman’s death. If convicted, this police officer may face 20 years in prison.
The incident has shaken the country to its core, eliciting strong emotions from both sides of the political and social spectrums. Locals around the area have expressed deep sadness amid intense outrage. Many have called for change in the way police officers are trained to handle elderly individuals, noting the unfortunate death of M.S. as an example of the dangers of Tasers.
At the same time, police defenders have taken the opposite stance, noting the complex situation the officers were placed in. They argue that M.S. had been physically aggressive and that the actions of the police officers were based upon their assessment of the situation.
Regardless of the points of view, M.S.’ death is a tragedy, and her death serves as a reminder of how important it is for police officers to regard the sanctity of human life, especially when it comes to elderly individuals. Changes must be implemented in order to ensure that no one else experiences a similar fate.