Veronica Nelson handled inhumanely before jail demise, jail officer concedes

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

During Brown’s nightshift, the coroner heard Nelson went on to make nine further requires help over the prison intercom, together with a last 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 Courtroom fight to suppress her identification, Brown revealed she now believed she ought to’ve performed extra to assist Nelson during her ultimate hours.

Brown accepted she had a duty of care to Nelson and should have gone to verify on the 37-year-old after the inmate became unresponsive throughout her ultimate intercom call. She additionally accepted Nelson was disadvantaged of “adequate” medical care during her stay and never treated humanely.

The prison officer was additionally essential of the medical care offered to inmates and the situation in which some arrived at the Yarra unit. She said night time nurses typically refused to walk the 200 metres from the medical unit to the Yarra unit to see patients throughout the night time.

Jail officers are not permitted to name triple zero and more senior employees would need to be contacted to do that in any emergency, Brown stated.

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

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

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

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

Images and audio contained on this story were released to the media with permission from the household. For twenty-four/7 disaster help run by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander folks, contact 13YARN (13 92 76).