Veronica Nelson treated inhumanely earlier than jail death, jail officer concedes

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

During Brown’s nightshift, the coroner heard Nelson went on to make nine additional requires assist over the jail intercom, together with a final two conversations Lacy described as “haunting” and “chilling”. Nothing was heard from Nelson after 4am. Her body was discovered later that morning.

Attending paramedics believed she had been dead for some time.

Taking to the witness stand for the primary time on Friday after a failed Supreme Court docket combat to suppress her identification, Brown revealed she now believed she ought to’ve achieved more to help Nelson during her final hours.

Brown accepted she had an obligation of care to Nelson and should have gone to verify on the 37-year-old after the inmate turned unresponsive during her remaining intercom name. She additionally accepted Nelson was deprived of “satisfactory” medical care during her stay and never handled humanely.

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

Jail officers should not permitted to name triple zero and more senior workers would must 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 however potentially life-threatening gastrointestinal condition.

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

Nathwani mentioned in the evaluation, Dame Phyllis Frost general supervisor Tracey Jones mentioned she was “proud” of the way Nelson was treated in her closing hours and that Brown “sensitively managed the intercom calls”.

Jail CCTV reveals Tracey Brown, far right, 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 because of give evidence next week.

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