Veronica Nelson treated inhumanely before jail loss of life, jail officer concedes

CCTV reveals Brown, nurse Atheana George and two other prison officers present Nelson with paracetamol although a cell trap door about 1.30am. It was the final time workers noticed her alive.

Throughout Brown’s nightshift, the coroner heard Nelson went on to make nine further calls for assist over the jail intercom, including a remaining two conversations Lacy described as “haunting” and “chilling”. Nothing was heard from Nelson after 4am. Her body was found later that morning.

Attending paramedics believed she had been dead for some time.

Taking to the witness stand for the first time on Friday after a failed Supreme Court struggle to suppress her identification, Brown revealed she now believed she ought to’ve executed extra to assist Nelson during her last 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 throughout her last intercom name. She also accepted Nelson was deprived of “ample” medical care throughout her stay and never treated humanely.

The prison officer was additionally crucial of the medical care offered to inmates and the condition by which some arrived on the Yarra unit. She mentioned night nurses usually refused to walk the 200 metres from the medical unit to the Yarra unit to see sufferers in the course of the evening.

Prison officers aren't permitted to call triple zero and more senior workers would have to be contacted to try this in any emergency, Brown said.

An autopsy later discovered Nelson had the undiagnosed medical situation Wilkie’s syndrome, a uncommon however potentially life-threatening gastrointestinal situation.

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

Nathwani stated in the evaluate, Dame Phyllis Frost normal supervisor Tracey Jones said she was “proud” of the way Nelson was handled in her remaining hours and that Brown “sensitively managed the intercom calls”.

Prison CCTV exhibits Tracey Brown, far proper, 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 proof subsequent week.

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