Veronica Nelson handled inhumanely earlier than jail loss of life, prison officer concedes

CCTV exhibits Brown, nurse Atheana George and two other prison officers provide Nelson with paracetamol though a cell trap door about 1.30am. It was the last time staff noticed her alive.

During Brown’s nightshift, the coroner heard Nelson went on to make nine additional calls for help over the prison intercom, including a remaining 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 useless for a while.

Taking to the witness stand for the primary time on Friday after a failed Supreme Court docket struggle to suppress her identification, Brown revealed she now believed she ought to’ve done more to assist Nelson during her last hours.

Brown accepted she had an obligation of care to Nelson and may have gone to verify on the 37-year-old after the inmate turned unresponsive throughout her remaining intercom call. She also accepted Nelson was deprived of “sufficient” medical care during her stay and not treated humanely.

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

Prison officers aren't permitted to call triple zero and extra senior employees would must be contacted to do that in any emergency, Brown mentioned.

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

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

Nathwani said within the assessment, Dame Phyllis Frost basic supervisor Tracey Jones mentioned she was “proud” of the best way 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 jail cell alongside nurse Atheana George about 1.30am the day of Nelson’s loss of life.

On the stand, Brown disagreed. Jones is because of give proof next week.

Photos and audio contained on this story had been launched to the media with permission from the family. For 24/7 crisis support run by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, contact 13YARN (13 92 76).