Veronica Nelson handled inhumanely before jail dying, prison officer concedes

CCTV exhibits Brown, nurse Atheana George and two other jail officers present Nelson with paracetamol though a cell trap door about 1.30am. It was the final time staff saw her alive.

During Brown’s nightshift, the coroner heard Nelson went on to make 9 additional requires assist over the jail intercom, together with a last 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 useless for a while.

Taking to the witness stand for the first time on Friday after a failed Supreme Courtroom battle to suppress her identity, Brown revealed she now believed she ought to’ve completed extra to assist Nelson during her final hours.

Brown accepted she had a duty of care to Nelson and should have gone to examine on the 37-year-old after the inmate grew to become unresponsive during her final intercom name. She also accepted Nelson was disadvantaged of “enough” medical care during her stay and never handled humanely.

The prison officer was additionally vital of the medical care supplied to inmates and the condition in which some arrived at the Yarra unit. She said 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 evening.

Jail officers aren't permitted to call triple zero and more senior staff would must be contacted to do this in any emergency, Brown stated.

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

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

Nathwani mentioned in the evaluation, Dame Phyllis Frost normal manager Tracey Jones mentioned she was “proud” of the way in which Nelson was handled in her ultimate 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 dying.

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

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