Veronica Nelson treated inhumanely earlier than jail demise, prison officer concedes

CCTV exhibits Brown, nurse Atheana George and two different jail officers provide Nelson with paracetamol although a cell trap door about 1.30am. It was the final time staff noticed her alive.

Throughout Brown’s nightshift, the coroner heard Nelson went on to make 9 additional requires help over the jail intercom, including 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 dead for a while.

Taking to the witness stand for the first time on Friday after a failed Supreme Courtroom combat to suppress her id, Brown revealed she now believed she ought to’ve accomplished extra to assist Nelson throughout her remaining hours.

Brown accepted she had an obligation of care to Nelson and may have gone to examine on the 37-year-old after the inmate turned unresponsive throughout her final intercom name. She also accepted Nelson was disadvantaged of “enough” medical care throughout her keep and not handled humanely.

The prison officer was also crucial of the medical care provided to inmates and the condition in which some arrived on the Yarra unit. She stated evening nurses usually refused to walk the 200 metres from the medical unit to the Yarra unit to see patients during the night time.

Jail officers are usually not permitted to name triple zero and more senior staff would need to be contacted to try this in any emergency, Brown said.

An post-mortem later found Nelson had the undiagnosed medical situation Wilkie’s syndrome, a rare however potentially life-threatening gastrointestinal situation.

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

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

Prison CCTV shows Tracey Brown, far right, attending Nelson’s jail cell alongside nurse Atheana George about 1.30am the day of Nelson’s loss of life.

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

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