Melbourne inquest: Phone records trigger perjury referral for birthkeeper

Coroner Therese McCarthy has heard that Emily Lal may be referred to the Office of Public Prosecutions for perjury. The referral is based on digital evidence that contradicts Lal's earlier testimony regarding her role in the death of Stacey Warnecke. Counsel assisting the coroner, Rachel Ellyard, presented the findings during resumed hearings on Monday.

Warnecke, a 30-year-old nutritionist, died in September 2025 at Frankston Hospital. She had given birth at home and suffered a postpartum haemorrhage, losing up to 1.5 litres of blood. Warnecke paid Lal $6,000 for support throughout her pregnancy. Lal, who has no clinical training, was present during the emergency but did not call an ambulance until Warnecke agreed on the third request. By the time paramedics arrived, Warnecke was seriously unwell. She died in hospital after medical staff exhausted their blood supply.

The inquest began in June, but closing submissions were delayed while Warnecke's phone underwent forensic analysis. The completed review uncovered numerous messages, including texts in a WhatsApp group chat for women choosing freebirth that was coordinated by Lal. A recorded phone call between the two women was also played to the court.

In the call, Warnecke expressed fear of the hospital. Lal responded, "You should be scared of the hospital." She described the facility as a terrifying place and said that staying home required a mindset that was "so solid." Lal also suggested that midwives at home births can inadvertently sabotage the process by advising women to go to hospital when labour runs long, sometimes due to exhaustion.

Ellyard stated that this material directly contradicted Lal's June evidence. Lal had previously told the court that Warnecke hired her mainly as a supportive friend and that the payment covered her time rather than medical advice. Ellyard argued that Lal instead "groomed" clients to resist medical help. "She was providing advice. She was providing referrals. She was selling supplements," Ellyard said. She characterized the arrangement as much more structured and deliberate than a friendship. Ellyard added that Warnecke's husband, Nathan, had been reassured into believing his role was simply to sit back and support her.

Lal declined to return and give further evidence after the phone analysis. She originally testified only after the coroner granted a certificate of protection, which prevents that evidence from being used against her in future proceedings. Ellyard told the coroner it would be open to her to find Lal was not truthful and to refer her to prosecutors over the offence of perjury.

Ellyard noted that postpartum haemorrhage is the most common complication of childbirth and that women in well-resourced countries do not typically die from it in hospital. Drawing on earlier medical evidence, she said Warnecke would have survived a home birth with a registered midwife. "She suffered a known complication of childbirth, which was eminently treatable if identified and responded to immediately," Ellyard said.

The coroner will deliver her findings at a later date.