Veronica Nelson handled inhumanely earlier than jail death, prison officer concedes

CCTV exhibits 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.

Throughout Brown’s nightshift, the coroner heard Nelson went on to make nine additional requires assist over the jail 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 some time.

Taking to the witness stand for the first time on Friday after a failed Supreme Courtroom battle to suppress her id, Brown revealed she now believed she should’ve completed more to help Nelson throughout her ultimate hours.

Brown accepted she had a duty of care to Nelson and should have gone to test on the 37-year-old after the inmate grew to become unresponsive throughout her ultimate intercom call. She also accepted Nelson was disadvantaged of “ample” medical care during her stay and not treated humanely.

The jail officer was additionally important of the medical care provided to inmates and the situation in which some arrived at the Yarra unit. She stated night time nurses usually refused to stroll the 200 metres from the medical unit to the Yarra unit to see sufferers in the course of the night.

Jail officers usually are not permitted to call triple zero and extra senior employees would need to be contacted to try this in any emergency, Brown mentioned.

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

Rishi Nathwani, representing Nelson’s mom, was vital 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 Nelson was handled in her final hours and that Brown “sensitively managed the intercom calls”.

Prison CCTV exhibits 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 had been 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).