Veronica Nelson treated inhumanely before jail death, prison officer concedes

CCTV reveals Brown, nurse Atheana George and two different jail officers provide Nelson with paracetamol though a cell entice door about 1.30am. It was the last time staff noticed her alive.

Throughout Brown’s nightshift, the coroner heard Nelson went on to make nine further requires assist over the prison intercom, together with a ultimate two conversations Lacy described as “haunting” and “chilling”. Nothing was heard from Nelson after 4am. Her body was found 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 Court fight to suppress her id, Brown revealed she now believed she should’ve done more to assist Nelson throughout her remaining hours.

Brown accepted she had a duty of care to Nelson and may have gone to verify on the 37-year-old after the inmate became unresponsive throughout her remaining intercom name. She also accepted Nelson was disadvantaged of “enough” medical care during her stay and not handled humanely.

The prison officer was also vital of the medical care supplied to inmates and the condition wherein some arrived at the Yarra unit. She mentioned night time nurses often refused to walk the 200 metres from the medical unit to the Yarra unit to see sufferers during the evening.

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

An post-mortem later discovered Nelson had the undiagnosed medical situation Wilkie’s syndrome, a uncommon however probably life-threatening gastrointestinal situation.

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

Nathwani stated in the evaluation, Dame Phyllis Frost normal manager Tracey Jones stated she was “proud” of the way in which Nelson was treated in her last hours and that Brown “sensitively managed the intercom calls”.

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

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

Pictures and audio contained in this story were released to the media with permission from the household. For 24/7 crisis help run by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, contact 13YARN (13 92 76).