Veronica Nelson handled inhumanely earlier than jail demise, jail officer concedes

CCTV shows Brown, nurse Atheana George and two different prison officers present Nelson with paracetamol though a cell trap door about 1.30am. It was the last time employees noticed her alive.

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

Attending paramedics believed she had been useless for a while.

Taking to the witness stand for the first time on Friday after a failed Supreme Court docket battle to suppress her identity, Brown revealed she now believed she should’ve carried out extra to assist Nelson throughout her final hours.

Brown accepted she had a duty of care to Nelson and should have gone to check on the 37-year-old after the inmate became unresponsive throughout her last intercom call. She additionally accepted Nelson was deprived of “adequate” medical care throughout her keep and never handled humanely.

The prison officer was also vital of the medical care provided to inmates and the situation wherein some arrived at the Yarra unit. She mentioned night time nurses typically refused to walk the 200 metres from the medical unit to the Yarra unit to see patients during the night.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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