Veronica Nelson treated inhumanely before jail dying, prison officer concedes

CCTV reveals Brown, nurse Atheana George and two other prison officers provide Nelson with paracetamol though a cell entice door about 1.30am. It was the last time workers saw her alive.

During Brown’s nightshift, the coroner heard Nelson went on to make nine further requires help over the jail intercom, together with a ultimate two conversations Lacy described as “haunting” and “chilling”. Nothing was heard from Nelson after 4am. Her physique was discovered later that morning.

Attending paramedics believed she had been useless for some time.

Taking to the witness stand for the primary time on Friday after a failed Supreme Court docket combat to suppress her identity, Brown revealed she now believed she should’ve achieved extra to assist Nelson during her closing hours.

Brown accepted she had an obligation of care to Nelson and may have gone to check on the 37-year-old after the inmate turned unresponsive during her remaining intercom call. She also accepted Nelson was disadvantaged of “enough” medical care during her stay and never treated humanely.

The prison officer was also vital of the medical care provided to inmates and the situation by which some arrived on the Yarra unit. She said evening nurses often refused to stroll the 200 metres from the medical unit to the Yarra unit to see sufferers throughout the evening.

Prison officers are usually not permitted to call triple zero and more senior staff would should be contacted to do that in any emergency, Brown said.

An post-mortem later discovered Nelson had the undiagnosed medical condition Wilkie’s syndrome, a uncommon but probably life-threatening gastrointestinal situation.

Rishi Nathwani, representing Nelson’s mom, was vital of Brown’s motion and pressed the prison officer on an inner evaluation that praised her actions.

Nathwani mentioned within the assessment, Dame Phyllis Frost normal manager Tracey Jones stated she was “proud” of the way in which Nelson was treated in her ultimate hours and that Brown “sensitively managed the intercom calls”.

Prison CCTV exhibits Tracey Brown, far right, attending Nelson’s jail cell alongside nurse Atheana George about 1.30am the day of Nelson’s loss of life.

On the stand, Brown disagreed. Jones is due to give evidence subsequent week.

Pictures and audio contained on this story have been launched to the media with permission from the family. For twenty-four/7 crisis support run by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals, contact 13YARN (13 92 76).