Veronica Nelson handled inhumanely before jail demise, jail officer concedes

CCTV exhibits Brown, nurse Atheana George and two other prison officers present Nelson with paracetamol though a cell entice 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 further calls for assist over the jail intercom, including a closing 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 dead for a while.

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

Brown accepted she had a duty of care to Nelson and will have gone to test on the 37-year-old after the inmate grew to become unresponsive during her ultimate intercom call. She also accepted Nelson was disadvantaged of “enough” medical care during her stay and not handled humanely.

The prison officer was additionally crucial of the medical care offered to inmates and the condition through which some arrived on the Yarra unit. She mentioned night nurses often refused to stroll the 200 metres from the medical unit to the Yarra unit to see patients during the evening.

Prison officers aren't permitted to name triple zero and extra senior employees would should be contacted to do this in any emergency, Brown said.

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

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

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

Prison CCTV reveals 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 proof next week.

Pictures and audio contained in this story had been launched to the media with permission from the family. For twenty-four/7 crisis assist run by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander folks, contact 13YARN (13 92 76).