Thread by @dhadjowa

Today is Day 11 of the Coronial inquest into the death in custody of Veronica Nelson. This arvo, Justin Urch, a Corrections Officer from Dame Phyllis Frost Centre is giving evidence. Come down to the Coroner's Court to support the family or follow here #JusticeForVeronicaNelson

You can also join remotely using the below link: csvic.webex.com/mw3300/mywebex…
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Justin Urch was working in the Yarra Unit at DPFC on the 1st of January. At the time, he was No.1 Officer in Command on Duty.

Rishi Nathwani, Counsel For Aunty Donna, Veronica's Mum is questioning the witness

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We hear that on the evening that Urch was in charge of the Yarra Unit of the 1st on January, Veronica used her intercom 13 times.

Q: Another inmate was calling to raise concerns [about Veronica], were you aware of that?

Urch: No

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The witness is directed to revise the staff log from the evening of the 1st of January.

Urch gives evidence that the purpose of the staff log is to keep track of what has happened in the Yarra Unit while on shift, and make sure everything is recorded

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Q: Earlier Counsel Assisting took you through some of the factors relevant to Veronica 13 calls on the intercom system. Is there any reasons why all of this information wasn’t recorded on the staff log?

Urch: No

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Q: Do you agree this is a misleading document?

U: No I think doc states certain things.. I don’t know whether it is entirely misleading

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Q: The purpose of this log…is to understand what is going on on the wing…you’ve accepted it omits a large amount of info concerning Veronica… so why is it not misleading?

U: It's not telling me things happened that didn’t happen, it's just omitting things that did happen

Q: This wasn’t accurate was it?
Urch: No
Q: Has there been any change to how things are reported?
Urch: No
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Q: The overnight officer [in the Yarra Unit] was the one who suggested to Veronica she might feel better with some salt in her water. Were you aware of that?

U: No

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Q: Is it appropriate to suggest to someone that they should have salt, when it is not present in their cell and can’t be provided by staff?

U: No

Q: Did the prison officer say to you, [Veronica] needs salt, can you go and deliver it to her because you have the keys?

U: No

Counsel For Aunty Donna (Q): Is there any training to staff to mislead the people you are caring for?

Urch: No

Q: Would it be appropriate for a staff member to mislead an inmate?

Urch: No

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Urch gives evidence he wasn't aware Veronica was vomiting and this info wasn't handed over from the Med Unit when Veronica was transferred to Yarra Unit

Q: Do you agree there is a breakdown in communication by you and your staff and the med staff in the prison?

U: I suppose

Q: By the time you go to her door she has buzzed...three times to ask for the blanket…Having watched the CCTV, can you assist as to why your colleagues are smiling at the time you hand Veronica the blanket?

Urch: Maybe it was when I said goodnight to her, I do not know

Q: Do you think it was when you were saying "a thanks for the blanket would be nice Ms Nelson"?

A former inmate in the Yarra Unit at the same time as Veronica has given evidence she overheard Officer Urch say, "a thanks for the blanket would be nice Ms Nelson"

Counsel for Aunty Donna: Do you think directly or indirectly there was discrimination by you or your colleagues [towards Veronica]?

Urch: No I don't

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Andrew Woods, Counsel for Percy Lovett, Veronica's partner, is now questioning Corrections Officer Justin Urch

Urch is asked if he is aware that Aboriginal people are more likely to die in custody.

Urch: Yes

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Q: Are you aware of when the most dangerous period of incarceration is?
U: Highest risk...is the first week
Q: Given you know that...I want to suggest...it is important to have consistent cell checks, in particular for Aboriginal women. Do you agree?
U: No I don't

Q: What processes do you have for in cell checks?
U: If a prisoner is put on observations
Q: Is it correct that one reason a prisoner may be put on observation is because there are health concerns regarding that prisoner, is that right?
Q: Yes

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Urch is asked if he was aware of any requirement to perform in cell observations of Veronica for health concerns on the evening of Jan 1, when he was in charge of the Yarra Unit

Urch: I know there was no requirements that night

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Michael Stanton, Counsel for the Law & Advocacy Centre for Women is now questioning Urch. He asks Urch about his familiarity with the rights of Prisoners

Q: In relation to medical care what are Prisoners rights?

U: They are entitled to the care that they need.

Q: [In relation to Prisoner rights] does the same thing apply to shelter and bedding?

U: Yes

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Q: You...have no recollection of whether or not you had been informed that [Veronica] had been vomiting repeatedly?

U: No

Q: Except you recall asking her to thank you for providing the basic human need of a blanket?

U: …this had everything to do with building rapport with her

Q: By insisting on good manners when providing [Veronica] with a basic need of a blanket, you were just trying to build rapport with her?
U: Yes
Q: I suggest its not about building rapport.. I suggest it's...an attempt to have a dig at a vulnerable Prisoner
U: No, definitely not

Leanne Reid is called to resume her evidence. Reid was called as a witness yesterday. Reid is employed as Prison Supervisor of medical prison receptions records and property at DPFC, and was in this position when Veronica died in custody in January 2020

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Yesterday we heard evidence that after Veronica's intake medical assessment on 31 Dec, Reid overrode Dr Runacres' medical clearance to send Veronica to the Yarra Unit, and decided that Veronica should remain in the med unit overnight, as she had concerns about Veronica's health

Reid gave evidence that she made the decision for Veronica to stay in the Medical Unit overnight on the 31 December because she wanted Veronica to have access to medical staff overnight

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Reid also gave evidence that when Veronica arrived at rDPFC reception, prior to her intake medical assessment with Dr Runacres, she was very unwell.

"There was a period of time where she...wasn't able to, sort of stand...she was bending over so we went to assist her" - Reid

Counsel Assisting is questioning the witness

We hear that in the 1/2 period after Reid made the decision for Veronica to stay in the med unit overnight, Veronica called the intercom 4 times reporting she was feeling unwell and had vomited. No one in unit came to check on her

CA: Is that consistent with what you would have expected when you made the decision to keep Veronica overnight in the med unit?

R: I would have expected that the officer would have opened the door and physically gone and seen her, and that they would have called the nurse down

The court is played audio and CCTV of the next time Veronica uses the intercom to call for help at 1am. Veronica has thrown up, and when she communicates this is told over the intercom that "there will be people to clean it in the morning"

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CA: Does this meet your expectations for the sort of care you would want for someone staying in medical

R: No

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The court is played further audio of Veronica asking for a drink. The CO tells her that no one is here to do anything.

Reid gives evidence that in this situation she would have called the supervisor to come over and got permission to open the door of the cell Veronica was in

The Court has previously heard that Veronica uses the intercom 10 times between 7.30am and 10.15am on Jan 1, asking for a drink and to see the doctor. The court hears audio of a CO telling her at 10.15am: “It’s not an emergency. Stop asking.”

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CA: Between 6:30pm-6:30am, not long after you have made the decision that [Veronica] stay in the med unit...no one had come to the trap to help her or have the door unlocked. Is that below the expectations you had when you had her directed to medical?

Reid: Yes

CA: In the very last communication [Veronica] has before she passes away.. she is told that she can come to the med centre and is asked if she would like to and she declines. Given what you now know about the med centre would it surprise you that she said no?

Reid: *inaudible*

CA: Is that the way that women who are withdrawing from heroin are treated in the medical unit under your watch?

R: In relation to custodial staff, thats not an expectation...Its very confronting that happened right under my nose... in terms of medical staff, I'm not surprised

CA: Why do you say you're not surprised?

R: Based on my experience. I don't think the care is constant.

CA: Can you say how medical care falls short in your view?

R: The access to actually see a doctor or nurse and the process for that to occur is quite cumbersome

CA: Do you mean by that, that it doesn't meet the standard of care that [women] would be able to get in the community?

Reid: Yes

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CA: Have you observed other women appearing quite unwell, comparative to the way Veronica presented, who weren't given appropriate treatment?

Reid gives evidence that she has consistently witnessed this in her 23 years of working at DPFC

CA: What do you think needs to be done to fix that?

R: Nursing staff that are actually qualified to work... just a level of understanding of the constraints of being in prison...in terms of Aboriginal prisoners...specific clinics that address the needs of that group of women.

CA: Is it apparent to you that there is a lack of cultural awareness amongst medical staff?

R: Cultural awareness and cultural competence

Court adjourns for the day. Reid will continue her evidence tomorrow.

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