Veronica Nelson treated inhumanely earlier than jail dying, 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 final time workers saw her alive.

During Brown’s nightshift, the coroner heard Nelson went on to make 9 further requires help over the prison intercom, including a last 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 dead for some time.

Taking to the witness stand for the primary time on Friday after a failed Supreme Court docket battle to suppress her identity, Brown revealed she now believed she ought to’ve performed more to assist Nelson during her closing hours.

Brown accepted she had an obligation of care to Nelson and may have gone to examine on the 37-year-old after the inmate became unresponsive during her ultimate intercom name. She additionally accepted Nelson was deprived of “sufficient” medical care throughout her keep and never treated humanely.

The prison officer was also crucial of the medical care offered to inmates and the situation in which some arrived on the Yarra unit. She stated evening nurses often refused to stroll the 200 metres from the medical unit to the Yarra unit to see sufferers during the evening.

Prison officers are not permitted to call triple zero and more senior staff would must be contacted to try this in any emergency, Brown stated.

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

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

Nathwani said within the overview, Dame Phyllis Frost common supervisor Tracey Jones stated she was “proud” of the best way 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 jail cell alongside nurse Atheana George about 1.30am the day of Nelson’s dying.

On the stand, Brown disagreed. Jones is because of give proof subsequent week.

Photos and audio contained in this story have been launched to the media with permission from the household. For twenty-four/7 disaster help run by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, contact 13YARN (13 92 76).