Veronica Nelson handled inhumanely before jail dying, jail 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 noticed her alive.

During Brown’s nightshift, the coroner heard Nelson went on to make 9 further calls for 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 physique was discovered 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 battle to suppress her id, Brown revealed she now believed she should’ve finished extra 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 became unresponsive during her closing intercom name. She also accepted Nelson was disadvantaged of “sufficient” medical care throughout her stay and not treated humanely.

The prison officer was also critical of the medical care supplied to inmates and the situation wherein some arrived on 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 patients through the night.

Jail officers should not permitted to name triple zero and more senior employees would need to be contacted to try this in any emergency, Brown stated.

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

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

Nathwani mentioned within the review, Dame Phyllis Frost basic manager Tracey Jones mentioned she was “proud” of the best way Nelson was treated in her last 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 dying.

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

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