Veronica Nelson handled inhumanely before jail death, jail officer concedes

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

Throughout Brown’s nightshift, the coroner heard Nelson went on to make nine further calls for assist over the jail intercom, together with a ultimate two conversations Lacy described as “haunting” and “chilling”. Nothing was heard from Nelson after 4am. Her physique was found 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 Courtroom struggle to suppress her id, Brown revealed she now believed she should’ve performed more to help Nelson throughout her final hours.

Brown accepted she had an obligation of care to Nelson and should have gone to check on the 37-year-old after the inmate grew to become unresponsive during her closing intercom call. She additionally accepted Nelson was deprived of “satisfactory” medical care during her keep and not treated humanely.

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

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

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

Rishi Nathwani, representing Nelson’s mom, was important of Brown’s motion and pressed the jail officer on an internal overview that praised her actions.

Nathwani mentioned within the evaluate, Dame Phyllis Frost normal manager Tracey Jones stated she was “proud” of the way in which Nelson was treated in her last hours and that Brown “sensitively managed the intercom calls”.

Jail CCTV exhibits Tracey Brown, far right, attending Nelson’s jail cell alongside nurse Atheana George about 1.30am the day of Nelson’s death.

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

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