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

CCTV shows Brown, nurse Atheana George and two different jail officers present Nelson with paracetamol though a cell lure 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 additional requires assist 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 lifeless for a while.

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 ought to’ve executed more to help Nelson throughout her remaining hours.

Brown accepted she had a duty of care to Nelson and may have gone to examine on the 37-year-old after the inmate turned unresponsive during her final intercom call. She additionally accepted Nelson was deprived of “adequate” medical care during her stay and not treated humanely.

The prison officer was additionally vital of the medical care provided to inmates and the situation by which some arrived at the Yarra unit. She stated night nurses often refused to stroll the 200 metres from the medical unit to the Yarra unit to see patients in the course of the night.

Jail officers are usually not permitted to name triple zero and extra senior workers would have to be contacted to do that in any emergency, Brown said.

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

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

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

Jail CCTV reveals Tracey Brown, far right, attending Nelson’s prison cell alongside nurse Atheana George about 1.30am the day of Nelson’s death.

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

Pictures and audio contained on this story have been released to the media with permission from the household. For 24/7 crisis support run by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander folks, contact 13YARN (13 92 76).