As the limp body of an Aboriginal woman in custody was put in a wheelchair and her eyes rolled back moments before her death, a police officer still believed she was exaggerating her illness.
Senior Constable Shelly Burgess admitted at a coronial inquest in Perth on Monday that her actions were inhumane and she showed no compassion or professionalism towards Ms Dhu, whose first name is not used for cultural reasons.
The officer, who was on the verge of crying throughout her testimony, also accepted the findings of an internal investigation that saw her handed an assistant commissioner's warning for failing to carry out her duties.
Ms Dhu, 22, died two days after being locked up at South Hedland Police Station in August 2014 for unpaid fines totalling $3622, stemming from offences including assaulting an officer.
Sen Const Burgess testified that Sergeant Rick Bond - who has since quit the force - told her Ms Dhu was a junkie who was faking illness.
She said Sgt Bond was frustrated and she wanted to appease him because "his word was law" and he was known to "verbally attack" people who questioned him.
When she came to take Ms Dhu to the shower, Ms Dhu complained of a numb leg so Sen Const Burgess suggested she go to hospital, which made Sgt Bond angry.
Sen Const Burgess pulled Ms Dhu's wrist to sit her up, but Ms Dhu felt heavier than expected, so the officer had to let go and Ms Dhu hit her head.
After viewing footage in court, Sen Const Burgess admitted it looked bad but denied yanking on Ms Dhu.
When Sgt Bond arrived, Sen Const Burgess told him: "I've just dropped her, she's hit her head".
Sgt Bond allegedly whispered in Ms Dhu's ear she was a "f***ing junkie" who was messing him around.
Sen Const Burgess said she never told Internal Affairs investigators about his comments because they did not ask.
Asked whether she was protecting her superior, she replied: "It can be looked that way."
She said she also feared repercussions.
There remained no sense of urgency and Sen Const Burgess said she only learned Ms Dhu had also broken her ribs when her partner and fellow detainee Dion Ruffin shouted it from his cell.
Mr Ruffin also said Ms Dhu only used speed but it didn't affect her that way.
Sen Const Burgess admitted telling Ms Dhu to be quiet as she took her to hospital.
As Ms Dhu was pulled out of the van, she said she could not feel her body and her head fell back in the wheelchair, but Sen Const Burgess thought Ms Dhu was pretending to faint to get quicker medical treatment.
Ms Dhu died during that third visit in as many days to the Hedland Health Campus from staphylococcal septicaemia and pneumonia, following an infection in her fractured ribs that spread to her lungs.
The inquest continues.
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