Veronica Nelson treated inhumanely before jail dying, prison officer concedes

CCTV shows Brown, nurse Atheana George and two different prison officers provide Nelson with paracetamol although a cell lure door about 1.30am. It was the last time staff noticed her alive.

During Brown’s nightshift, the coroner heard Nelson went on to make 9 additional calls for assist over the jail intercom, including a final 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 some time.

Taking to the witness stand for the first time on Friday after a failed Supreme Court docket fight to suppress her identity, Brown revealed she now believed she ought to’ve carried out more to help Nelson throughout her closing hours.

Brown accepted she had an obligation of care to Nelson and may have gone to test on the 37-year-old after the inmate grew to become unresponsive during her closing intercom call. She additionally accepted Nelson was disadvantaged of “ample” medical care throughout her keep and not treated humanely.

The prison officer was additionally vital of the medical care offered to inmates and the condition during which some arrived at the Yarra unit. She stated night time nurses typically refused to walk the 200 metres from the medical unit to the Yarra unit to see patients in the course of the night time.

Prison officers will not be permitted to call triple zero and more senior workers would need to be contacted to do this in any emergency, Brown mentioned.

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

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

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

Prison CCTV reveals Tracey Brown, far proper, attending Nelson’s jail 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 subsequent week.

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