An Aboriginal woman who died in a prison cell due to complications from a rare medical condition called for help 12 times in the hours leading up to her death, the Coroners Court of Victoria has heard.
WARNING: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised that the following article contains names, images and descriptions of people who have died.
Gunditjmara, Dja Dja Wurrung, Wiradjuri and Yorta Yorta woman Veronica Nelson was found dead in her cell at Dame Phyllis Frost Centre on January 2.
She was remembered in a statement from her mother, Donna Nelson, as a "very spiritual woman" who was proud of her Aboriginal culture and ancestors and "like a second mother" to her two brothers, Duane and Russell.
In a directions hearing held over video conference on Thursday, Coroner Jacqui Hawkins indicated she would hold an inquest into the death and take into account factors raised by Ms Nelson's next of kin.
Counsel assisting the coroner, Catherine Fitzgerald, told the court Ms Nelson was arrested on December 30, 2019, over theft and outstanding warrants.
The 37-year-old appeared before a court later that day, without representation, where she was refused bail and remanded in custody before her next court hearing scheduled for a fortnight later.
The court heard Ms Nelson told staff at Dame Phyllis Frost Centre, Victoria's maximum-security women's prison, that she was withdrawing from heroin before she spent a night in the prison's medical unit.
The following day, she was taken to the Yarra Unit, a transitional part of the prison, where she was kept in a cell as the unit locked down for the night.
Nurse was unable to prescribe requested medication, court hears
Ms Fitzgerald told the court Ms Nelson began to contact the prison officer on duty through her cell intercom at 1:05am on January 2, to tell them she was experiencing cramping in her legs, hands and feet.
A nurse was called five minutes later and went to speak to her through her cell door, dispensing Panadol and Maxolon through a flap in the door.
At 2:15am, Ms Nelson called the prison officer again on the intercom and told them she was still in pain and believed she had vomited up her medication.
The nurse said she was unable to prescribe more medication until the morning.
Ms Fitzgerald told the court Ms Nelson was calling out loudly and appeared distressed, later requesting salt water, which was refused, and telling the prison officer her legs were cramping badly.
Around 3:35am, Ms Nelson declined an offer to be taken to the medical unit, indicating she wanted to remain in her cell, the court heard.
Ms Nelson made her final contact with the prison officer over the intercom about 4:00am, after it appears she made a total of 12 intercom calls.
Around 4:30am, the nurse said she asked the prison officer about Ms Nelson's condition and was told she had settled and was sleeping.
Prison officers checking on Ms Nelson's cell shortly after 7:30am heard a shower running and saw her lying on the floor of her cell.
Paramedics were called but CPR was not attempted as the prison staff had concluded Ms Nelson had already died.
A medical report concluded Ms Nelson died as a result of complications from Wilkie syndrome, an "uncommon but well-recognised" disorder which causes pain, nausea and vomiting and can be life-threatening.
Mother remembers her 'warrior' daughter
Ms Hawkins indicated there was still a significant amount of further investigation required for the inquiry, including additional witness statements and information from health and prison authorities.
The inquiry is likely to investigate why Ms Nelson was taken into custody by police and the overrepresentation of Aboriginal people in the justice system, why she was not represented at her bail hearing and how her health needs were managed in prison.
Earlier this year, Ms Nelson's partner Percy Lovett told the ABC she was "one of the brainiest" people he had ever met.
"She was just a beautiful woman. She had a beautiful smile," he said.
In a statement, Veronica Nelson's mother, Donna Nelson, said she missed her daughter and cried for her "every single day".
"She was a warrior and had a fighting spirit, and should have never been arrested and locked up in a maximum-security prison," she said.
"Veronica was a deeply caring and loving person — she deserved to be treated with dignity and taken to hospital."
The next hearing is expected to be held in October.
