Veronica Nelson handled inhumanely earlier than jail death, 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 employees noticed her alive.

During Brown’s nightshift, the coroner heard Nelson went on to make nine further requires assist over the prison 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 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 identification, Brown revealed she now believed she ought to’ve accomplished extra to assist Nelson during her final hours.

Brown accepted she had an obligation of care to Nelson and may have gone to test on the 37-year-old after the inmate became unresponsive throughout her last intercom call. She additionally accepted Nelson was disadvantaged of “adequate” medical care throughout her stay and not handled humanely.

The jail officer was additionally critical of the medical care offered to inmates and the situation wherein some arrived at the Yarra unit. She stated evening nurses often refused to walk the 200 metres from the medical unit to the Yarra unit to see sufferers throughout the night.

Jail officers will not be permitted to call triple zero and more senior workers would have to be contacted to try this in any emergency, Brown stated.

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

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

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

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

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

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