Veronica Nelson treated inhumanely before jail loss of life, jail officer concedes

CCTV reveals Brown, nurse Atheana George and two other prison officers present Nelson with paracetamol though a cell trap door about 1.30am. It was the final time workers noticed her alive.

During Brown’s nightshift, the coroner heard Nelson went on to make nine further requires help over the prison intercom, including a last 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 lifeless for some time.

Taking to the witness stand for the first time on Friday after a failed Supreme Courtroom battle to suppress her identification, Brown revealed she now believed she should’ve performed more to help Nelson throughout her final hours.

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

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

Prison officers usually are not permitted to name triple zero and extra senior workers would need to be contacted to do this in any emergency, Brown said.

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

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

Nathwani mentioned in the assessment, Dame Phyllis Frost general manager Tracey Jones mentioned she was “proud” of the best way Nelson was treated in her last hours and that Brown “sensitively managed the intercom calls”.

Prison CCTV exhibits Tracey Brown, far right, attending Nelson’s prison cell alongside nurse Atheana George about 1.30am the day of Nelson’s dying.

On the stand, Brown disagreed. Jones is because of give evidence subsequent week.

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