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

CCTV reveals Brown, nurse Atheana George and two other prison 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 nine additional requires assist over the prison intercom, together with a closing 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 dead for some time.

Taking to the witness stand for the primary time on Friday after a failed Supreme Court docket combat to suppress her identity, Brown revealed she now believed she should’ve finished more to help Nelson throughout her ultimate hours.

Brown accepted she had an obligation of care to Nelson and should have gone to test on the 37-year-old after the inmate became unresponsive during her closing intercom call. She also accepted Nelson was deprived of “sufficient” medical care throughout her stay and never treated humanely.

The prison officer was also important of the medical care provided to inmates and the condition wherein some arrived at the Yarra unit. She stated night time nurses usually refused to stroll the 200 metres from the medical unit to the Yarra unit to see sufferers through the night time.

Jail officers aren't permitted to name triple zero and extra senior workers would must be contacted to try this in any emergency, Brown stated.

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

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

Nathwani stated in the assessment, Dame Phyllis Frost common supervisor Tracey Jones mentioned she was “proud” of the way in which Nelson was treated in her closing hours and that Brown “sensitively managed the intercom calls”.

Jail CCTV shows Tracey Brown, far proper, attending Nelson’s prison cell alongside nurse Atheana George about 1.30am the day of Nelson’s death.

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

Pictures and audio contained in this story had been launched to the media with permission from the household. For 24/7 disaster support run by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals, contact 13YARN (13 92 76).