Veronica Nelson treated inhumanely before jail demise, prison officer concedes

CCTV exhibits Brown, nurse Atheana George and two other jail officers present Nelson with paracetamol although a cell entice door about 1.30am. It was the final time employees saw her alive.

During Brown’s nightshift, the coroner heard Nelson went on to make 9 further requires assist over the prison intercom, including a ultimate two conversations Lacy described as “haunting” and “chilling”. Nothing was heard from Nelson after 4am. Her body was discovered later that morning.

Attending paramedics believed she had been lifeless for some time.

Taking to the witness stand for the first time on Friday after a failed Supreme Court battle to suppress her identity, Brown revealed she now believed she ought to’ve accomplished more to assist Nelson throughout her remaining hours.

Brown accepted she had an obligation of care to Nelson and will have gone to check on the 37-year-old after the inmate became unresponsive during her closing intercom call. She also accepted Nelson was deprived of “adequate” medical care throughout her keep and not treated humanely.

The prison officer was additionally crucial of the medical care supplied to inmates and the condition during which some arrived on the Yarra unit. She stated night time nurses usually refused to stroll the 200 metres from the medical unit to the Yarra unit to see patients throughout the evening.

Jail officers are usually not permitted to call triple zero and extra senior workers would have to be contacted to do this in any emergency, Brown stated.

An autopsy later discovered Nelson had the undiagnosed medical situation Wilkie’s syndrome, a rare however potentially life-threatening gastrointestinal situation.

Rishi Nathwani, representing Nelson’s mother, was critical of Brown’s motion and pressed the prison officer on an internal evaluate that praised her actions.

Nathwani stated in the evaluate, Dame Phyllis Frost common manager Tracey Jones said she was “proud” of the way in which Nelson was handled in her ultimate hours and that Brown “sensitively managed the intercom calls”.

Prison CCTV exhibits Tracey Brown, far right, 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 because of give proof subsequent week.

Photos and audio contained in this story were launched to the media with permission from the household. For twenty-four/7 crisis assist run by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, contact 13YARN (13 92 76).