Veronica Nelson handled inhumanely earlier than jail death, prison officer concedes

CCTV reveals Brown, nurse Atheana George and two other jail officers present Nelson with paracetamol although a cell trap 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 9 additional requires assist over the prison intercom, together with a closing 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 dead for some time.

Taking to the witness stand for the first time on Friday after a failed Supreme Court fight to suppress her id, Brown revealed she now believed she ought to’ve executed extra to assist Nelson throughout her closing hours.

Brown accepted she had an obligation of care to Nelson and will have gone to examine on the 37-year-old after the inmate turned unresponsive during her final intercom call. She additionally accepted Nelson was disadvantaged of “ample” medical care throughout her keep and never treated humanely.

The prison officer was also essential of the medical care supplied to inmates and the situation in which some arrived on the Yarra unit. She said night time nurses usually refused to stroll the 200 metres from the medical unit to the Yarra unit to see patients throughout the night time.

Prison officers will not be permitted to name triple zero and extra senior staff would should be contacted to do this in any emergency, Brown stated.

An post-mortem later found Nelson had the undiagnosed medical condition Wilkie’s syndrome, a rare but potentially life-threatening gastrointestinal condition.

Rishi Nathwani, representing Nelson’s mom, was important of Brown’s action and pressed the jail officer on an internal assessment that praised her actions.

Nathwani said within the overview, Dame Phyllis Frost basic manager Tracey Jones said she was “proud” of the way Nelson was treated in her last hours and that Brown “sensitively managed the intercom calls”.

Prison CCTV exhibits Tracey Brown, far proper, attending Nelson’s prison cell alongside nurse Atheana George about 1.30am the day of Nelson’s death.

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

Photographs and audio contained in this story were released to the media with permission from the household. For 24/7 crisis support run by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals, contact 13YARN (13 92 76).