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

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

Throughout Brown’s nightshift, the coroner heard Nelson went on to make nine further calls for assist over the jail intercom, together with a last two conversations Lacy described as “haunting” and “chilling”. Nothing was heard from Nelson after 4am. Her body was found later that morning.

Attending paramedics believed she had been lifeless for a while.

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

Brown accepted she had a duty of care to Nelson and should have gone to test on the 37-year-old after the inmate turned unresponsive during her remaining intercom name. She additionally accepted Nelson was disadvantaged of “sufficient” medical care during her keep and never handled humanely.

The jail officer was also vital of the medical care offered to inmates and the situation through which some arrived at the Yarra unit. She stated night time nurses often refused to stroll the 200 metres from the medical unit to the Yarra unit to see patients through the night.

Jail officers are usually not permitted to name triple zero and extra senior employees would should be contacted to do that in any emergency, Brown stated.

An post-mortem later found Nelson had the undiagnosed medical situation Wilkie’s syndrome, a uncommon however potentially life-threatening gastrointestinal situation.

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

Nathwani mentioned within the evaluate, Dame Phyllis Frost normal supervisor Tracey Jones mentioned she was “proud” of the way Nelson was handled in her last hours and that Brown “sensitively managed the intercom calls”.

Jail 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 next week.

Photos and audio contained on this story were launched to the media with permission from the family. For 24/7 crisis assist run by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, contact 13YARN (13 92 76).