Veronica Nelson treated inhumanely before jail dying, prison officer concedes

CCTV shows Brown, nurse Atheana George and two other prison officers present Nelson with paracetamol although a cell trap door about 1.30am. It was the final time employees saw her alive.

During Brown’s nightshift, the coroner heard Nelson went on to make 9 additional requires help over the prison intercom, together with a ultimate two conversations Lacy described as “haunting” and “chilling”. Nothing was heard from Nelson after 4am. Her physique was discovered 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 Courtroom struggle to suppress her id, Brown revealed she now believed she should’ve done more to help Nelson throughout her remaining 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 became unresponsive during her ultimate intercom call. She also accepted Nelson was deprived of “satisfactory” medical care during her keep and not handled humanely.

The prison officer was additionally vital of the medical care supplied 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 during the night time.

Prison officers should not permitted to name triple zero and extra senior staff would must 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 uncommon but probably life-threatening gastrointestinal condition.

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

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

Jail CCTV exhibits Tracey Brown, far proper, attending Nelson’s prison cell alongside nurse Atheana George about 1.30am the day of Nelson’s dying.

On the stand, Brown disagreed. Jones is due to give proof next week.

Photos and audio contained on this story had been released to the media with permission from the household. For 24/7 crisis support run by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, contact 13YARN (13 92 76).