Veronica Nelson handled inhumanely earlier than jail demise, jail officer concedes

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

Throughout Brown’s nightshift, the coroner heard Nelson went on to make nine further calls for help over the prison intercom, including a remaining 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 primary time on Friday after a failed Supreme Court combat to suppress her identity, Brown revealed she now believed she ought to’ve accomplished more to help Nelson during her last 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 became unresponsive throughout her final intercom call. She also accepted Nelson was disadvantaged of “enough” medical care throughout her keep and never treated humanely.

The prison officer was additionally important of the medical care provided to inmates and the condition during which some arrived at the Yarra unit. She stated night nurses usually refused to walk the 200 metres from the medical unit to the Yarra unit to see sufferers through the night time.

Prison officers are not permitted to call triple zero and extra senior workers would must be contacted to do this in any emergency, Brown mentioned.

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

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

Nathwani mentioned in the assessment, Dame Phyllis Frost normal manager Tracey Jones mentioned she was “proud” of the way in which Nelson was handled in her remaining hours and that Brown “sensitively managed the intercom calls”.

Prison CCTV reveals Tracey Brown, far right, 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 due to give proof next week.

Photos and audio contained in this story have been released to the media with permission from the family. For 24/7 disaster assist run by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, contact 13YARN (13 92 76).