Veronica Nelson treated inhumanely earlier than jail demise, prison officer concedes

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

Throughout Brown’s nightshift, the coroner heard Nelson went on to make nine further calls for 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 lifeless for a while.

Taking to the witness stand for the first time on Friday after a failed Supreme Court struggle to suppress her identity, Brown revealed she now believed she ought to’ve finished extra to help 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 name. She also accepted Nelson was deprived of “enough” medical care during her stay and not treated humanely.

The jail officer was also essential of the medical care offered to inmates and the situation during which some arrived at the Yarra unit. She stated evening nurses typically refused to walk the 200 metres from the medical unit to the Yarra unit to see sufferers through the night time.

Prison officers should not permitted to name triple zero and extra senior workers would have to be contacted to try this in any emergency, Brown stated.

An autopsy later found Nelson had the undiagnosed medical situation Wilkie’s syndrome, a uncommon however doubtlessly life-threatening gastrointestinal condition.

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

Nathwani mentioned within the overview, Dame Phyllis Frost common supervisor Tracey Jones mentioned she was “proud” of the way Nelson was treated in her final hours and that Brown “sensitively managed the intercom calls”.

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

On the stand, Brown disagreed. Jones is because of give evidence next week.

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