Veronica Nelson treated inhumanely before jail demise, prison officer concedes

CCTV reveals 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 noticed her alive.

Throughout Brown’s nightshift, the coroner heard Nelson went on to make nine further requires help over the prison intercom, including a final 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 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 should’ve completed more to assist Nelson throughout her last hours.

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

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

Prison officers will not be permitted to name triple zero and extra senior employees would have to be contacted to try this in any emergency, Brown mentioned.

An post-mortem later discovered 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 action and pressed the jail officer on an internal overview that praised her actions.

Nathwani stated within the evaluation, Dame Phyllis Frost general manager Tracey Jones stated she was “proud” of the way in which Nelson was treated in her remaining hours and that Brown “sensitively managed the intercom calls”.

Jail CCTV exhibits Tracey Brown, far proper, attending Nelson’s jail 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.

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