Veronica Nelson treated inhumanely before jail demise, prison officer concedes

CCTV exhibits Brown, nurse Atheana George and two other prison 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 further requires help over the prison intercom, together with a closing two conversations Lacy described as “haunting” and “chilling”. Nothing was heard from Nelson after 4am. Her body was discovered later that morning.

Attending paramedics believed she had been lifeless for some time.

Taking to the witness stand for the first time on Friday after a failed Supreme Court battle to suppress her id, Brown revealed she now believed she ought to’ve executed more to assist Nelson throughout her closing hours.

Brown accepted she had an obligation of care to Nelson and may have gone to examine on the 37-year-old after the inmate became unresponsive during her last intercom call. She also accepted Nelson was deprived of “adequate” medical care during her keep and not treated humanely.

The prison officer was also critical of the medical care provided to inmates and the condition during which some arrived on the Yarra unit. She stated night nurses usually refused to walk the 200 metres from the medical unit to the Yarra unit to see patients through the night.

Prison officers should not permitted to call triple zero and extra senior staff would must be contacted to do that in any emergency, Brown stated.

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

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

Nathwani stated in the evaluation, Dame Phyllis Frost basic manager Tracey Jones stated she was “proud” of the best way Nelson was treated in her final 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 death.

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

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