Veronica Nelson treated inhumanely before jail death, jail officer concedes

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

Throughout Brown’s nightshift, the coroner heard Nelson went on to make 9 additional calls for help over the jail intercom, including a ultimate two conversations Lacy described as “haunting” and “chilling”. Nothing was heard from Nelson after 4am. Her physique was discovered 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 should’ve completed more to help Nelson during her last hours.

Brown accepted she had a duty of care to Nelson and should have gone to examine on the 37-year-old after the inmate turned unresponsive during her ultimate intercom name. She additionally accepted Nelson was disadvantaged of “ample” medical care throughout her keep and not handled humanely.

The prison officer was also crucial of the medical care offered to inmates and the condition wherein some arrived at the Yarra unit. She mentioned night time nurses typically refused to walk the 200 metres from the medical unit to the Yarra unit to see patients during the evening.

Jail officers will not be permitted to name triple zero and more senior workers would should be contacted to try this in any emergency, Brown said.

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

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

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

Jail CCTV reveals 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 because of give evidence subsequent week.

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