Melbourne birthkeeper faces perjury probe

The inquest into the death of a Melbourne woman who died after a home birth has raised new questions about the conduct of the untrained birthkeeper present at the time. On Monday, the Victorian coroner heard that the individual may be referred to prosecutors for potential perjury charges.

Stacey Warnecke, a 30-year-old nutritionist, died in September 2025 at Frankston hospital. She had given birth at home and suffered a severe postpartum haemorrhage. Emily Lal, a birthkeeper with no clinical training, was at Warnecke's side during the delivery. Warnecke had paid Lal $6,000 for support during the pregnancy.

Hearings had been suspended since June while forensic teams analyzed Warnecke's phone. Rachel Ellyard, the lawyer assisting the coroner, presented the findings to the court. The analysis revealed a WhatsApp group chat managed by Lal for women considering freebirth. A recorded phone call between Lal and Warnecke was also played for the judge.

Ellyard stated that this new material directly contradicted Lal's previous testimony. In June, Lal told the court that Warnecke hired her primarily as a supportive friend. Lal claimed the payment covered her time, not medical advice. Ellyard argued the evidence showed Lal actively prepared clients to resist medical intervention.

In the recorded call, Warnecke expressed fear of hospitals. Lal responded by saying the woman should be scared of the hospital. Lal described the facility as a terrifying place and stated that staying home required a mental state that was solid. She also suggested that midwives sometimes sabotage home births by advising women to go to the hospital simply because they are exhausted.

Lal previously testified that she was not clinically trained and that it was not her duty to ensure the birth was safe. She said she would not call an ambulance unless explicitly asked. She claimed she offered no medical advice and only shared her personal experiences. Ellyard rejected this description, noting that Lal provided advice, referrals, and sold supplements.

Ellyard characterized the arrangement as much more structured and deliberate than a casual friendship. She said Warnecke's husband, Nathan, was led to believe his only role was to sit back and support his wife. The court heard that Lal declined to return to give further evidence after the phone analysis was completed. She had originally testified under a certificate of protection, which prevents her statements from being used against her in future legal proceedings.

Ellyard told the coroner that she could find Lal was not truthful and refer her to the Office of Public Prosecutions for perjury. The office handles criminal matters on behalf of the director. The court previously established that Lal asked Warnecke three times if she wanted an ambulance after Warnecke delivered the placenta. Warnecke lost up to 1.5 liters of blood and struggled to breathe before agreeing to the call on the third attempt.

Warnecke was already seriously ill when paramedics arrived. She died in the hospital several hours later after staff used their entire blood supply attempting to save her. Lal had stated earlier that it was not her role to call an ambulance against a client's wishes, even if the patient was unconscious. Ellyard noted that Warnecke would have likely survived in a hospital setting. The coroner is scheduled to deliver her final findings at a later date.