Coroner Considers Perjury Referral for Birthkeeper in Home Birth Death

Counsel assisting the Victorian coroner told the court on Monday that birthkeeper Emily Lal may face perjury charges after forensic phone analysis contradicted her prior testimony.

The inquest into the death of Stacey Warnecke resumed in Melbourne after a delay for digital forensics. Warnecke, a 30-year-old nutritionist, died in September 2025 at Frankston hospital following a home birth attended by Lal. Warnecke had paid Lal 6,000 Australian dollars for support during her pregnancy.

Rachel Ellyard, counsel assisting coroner Therese McCarthy, presented evidence from Warnecke’s phone that directly challenged Lal’s June testimony. Lal had previously stated she was hired primarily to act as a supportive friend and that the fee covered her time rather than medical advice. Ellyard argued the new evidence shows Lal viewed her role as coaching clients to resist hospital care.

“Ms Lal saw her role as to groom her clients into being strong enough to resist the temptation to seek medical help during labor, to seek pain relief during labor, to go to hospital during labor,” Ellyard said.

A recorded phone call played in court featured Warnecke telling Lal she wanted a “wise woman” beside her to guide her through the birth. When Warnecke expressed fear of hospitals, Lal responded, “You should be scared of the hospital.” Lal described the hospital as a “terrifying place” and told Warnecke that staying home required a solid mindset to succeed.

Lal also told Warnecke that midwives attending home births sometimes inadvertently sabotage them by recommending hospital transfer if labor is prolonged. Lal stated, “I manage my own energy as much as I can in that way, so that I don’t subconsciously sabotage a person.”

Ellyard stated that Warnecke placed considerable trust in Lal, who provided expert advice, referrals, and supplements. This conduct was inconsistent with the informal, friendly role Lal had described to the court. Ellyard noted that Warnecke’s husband, Nathan, was also reassured that his role was limited to sitting back and supporting his wife.

Lal declined to return to court to give further evidence after the phone analysis was completed. She had previously given testimony under a certificate of protection, which prevents her evidence from being used against her in future proceedings. Ellyard told the coroner it would be open to her to find that Lal was not truthful in her evidence and to refer the matter to the Office of Public Prosecutions.

The court previously heard that Lal asked Warnecke three times if she wanted an ambulance called after the birth of the placenta and a loss of up to 1.5 liters of blood. Warnecke agreed to an ambulance on the third attempt. Paramedics arrived to find Warnecke seriously unwell with a massive postpartum hemorrhage. She died in hospital several hours later after medical staff exhausted the facility's blood supply.

Ellyard stated that Warnecke would have survived if she had been in hospital or giving birth at home with a registered midwife. Postpartum hemorrhage is a common and treatable complication of childbirth. The coroner will deliver findings at a later date.