Melbourne Inquest: Phone Evidence Contradicts Birthkeeper Testimony

Coroner Therese McCarthy has been told that birthkeeper Emily Lal may face a perjury referral regarding the death of Stacey Warnecke in September 2025. The inquest into Warnecke’s death resumed on Monday after a delay for the forensic analysis of her mobile phone. Rachel Ellyard, counsel assisting the coroner, presented findings that directly contradict Lal’s earlier testimony.

Warnecke, a 30-year-old nutritionist, died at Frankston Hospital following a postpartum hemorrhage after giving birth at home. She paid Lal $6,000 for support during her pregnancy. Birthkeepers operate outside the medical system and do not receive clinical training. In June, Lal testified that Warnecke hired her primarily as a supportive friend and that the payment covered her time rather than professional advice.

Ellyard argued that the phone records paint a different picture. The analysis uncovered a WhatsApp group chat coordinated by Lal for women choosing freebirth. A recorded call between the two women was played in court, where Lal told Warnecke she should be scared of the hospital. Lal described the hospital as a terrifying place and suggested that home births require a solid mindset. She also claimed midwives might inadvertently sabotage home births by recommending hospital transfers when labor runs long.

Ellyard stated that Lal’s role was to groom clients to resist medical help. She described the arrangement as much more structured and deliberate than a friendship. Ellyard noted that Lal provided advice, made referrals, and sold supplements. She added that Warnecke’s husband, Nathan, was reassured into believing his role was simply to support his wife from the sidelines. Lal declined an invitation to return and provide further evidence after the phone analysis was completed.

The court heard that Lal asked Warnecke three times if she wanted an ambulance after the placenta was delivered and Warnecke lost up to 1.5 liters of blood. Warnecke agreed on the third attempt but was already seriously ill when paramedics arrived. She died hours later after the hospital exhausted its blood supply. Lal previously testified that it was not her responsibility to call an ambulance against a client's wishes, even if the client was unconscious.

Ellyard told the coroner that Warnecke would likely have survived if she had been in a hospital setting. She noted that postpartum hemorrhage is a common and treatable complication in well-resourced countries. The coroner has the discretion to find that Lal was not truthful and to refer the matter to the Office of Public Prosecutions. Lal originally testified under a certificate of protection, which prevents her evidence from being used against her in future proceedings. The coroner will deliver final findings at a later date.