Veronica Nelson treated inhumanely earlier than jail loss of life, prison officer concedes

CCTV reveals Brown, nurse Atheana George and two different prison officers provide Nelson with paracetamol though a cell trap door about 1.30am. It was the final time workers noticed her alive.

During Brown’s nightshift, the coroner heard Nelson went on to make 9 further requires 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 identification, Brown revealed she now believed she should’ve achieved more to help Nelson during her closing hours.

Brown accepted she had an obligation of care to Nelson and should have gone to examine on the 37-year-old after the inmate became unresponsive during her ultimate intercom call. She also accepted Nelson was deprived of “adequate” medical care throughout her stay and not treated humanely.

The jail officer was also essential of the medical care supplied to inmates and the situation wherein some arrived on the Yarra unit. She said night time nurses often refused to stroll the 200 metres from the medical unit to the Yarra unit to see sufferers throughout the night time.

Jail officers will not be permitted to name triple zero and extra senior workers would should be contacted to try this in any emergency, Brown mentioned.

An post-mortem later found Nelson had the undiagnosed medical condition Wilkie’s syndrome, a rare but doubtlessly life-threatening gastrointestinal condition.

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

Nathwani mentioned within the assessment, Dame Phyllis Frost general supervisor Tracey Jones said she was “proud” of the best way Nelson was handled in her ultimate hours and that Brown “sensitively managed the intercom calls”.

Prison CCTV exhibits Tracey Brown, far proper, attending Nelson’s jail cell alongside nurse Atheana George about 1.30am the day of Nelson’s demise.

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

Photos and audio contained on this story have been launched 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).