A court has heard the New South Wales police officer accused of fatally tasering 95-year-old Clare Nowland in a Snowy Mountains nursing home intends to plead not guilty to manslaughter.
Kristian White made a surprise appearance at Cooma Local Court today, even though Magistrate Roger Clisdell had said he was excused from attending.
The 33-year-old was facing four charges in relation to the alleged tasering of Ms Nowland at her Cooma nursing home in May last year.
Those charges included recklessly causing grievous bodily harm, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, common assault and manslaughter.
Mr White's lawyer told the court his client intended to plead not guilty to manslaughter.
The other charges were withdrawn by prosecutors.
Police allege Ms Nowland, who had dementia, was using a walker and was holding a serrated steak knife at the time of the tasering before falling and fracturing her skull.
She died a week later in Cooma Hospital after suffering an inoperable bleed on the brain.
She was survived by eight children, 24 grandchildren and 31 great-grandchildren.
Mr White will now face the NSW Supreme Court on April 5.
He remains suspended from duty with pay.