Veronica Nelson treated inhumanely earlier than jail death, jail officer concedes

CCTV shows Brown, nurse Atheana George and two other jail officers present Nelson with paracetamol although a cell entice door about 1.30am. It was the last time employees noticed her alive.

During Brown’s nightshift, the coroner heard Nelson went on to make 9 further calls for help over the jail intercom, including a final 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 lifeless for some time.

Taking to the witness stand for the primary time on Friday after a failed Supreme Court docket battle to suppress her identity, Brown revealed she now believed she ought to’ve completed more to help Nelson during her remaining 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 turned unresponsive during her ultimate intercom call. She also accepted Nelson was deprived of “satisfactory” medical care during her keep and never treated humanely.

The prison officer was also critical of the medical care provided to inmates and the situation wherein some arrived at 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 during the evening.

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

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

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

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

Prison CCTV reveals Tracey Brown, far proper, attending Nelson’s prison cell alongside nurse Atheana George about 1.30am the day of Nelson’s loss of life.

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

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