Phone Records Challenge Birthkeeper Testimony

The $6,000 fee paid by Stacey Warnecke for home birth support is the centerpiece of new evidence presented to the Victorian Coroner. This payment contradicts the testimony of birthkeeper Emily Lal, who previously described the arrangement as a casual friendship. The forensic analysis of Warnecke’s phone revealed a more structured relationship, potentially exposing Lal to perjury charges.

Warnecke, a 30-year-old nutritionist and wellness influencer, died in September 2025 at Frankston hospital in Melbourne. She suffered a postpartum haemorrhage after delivering at home. Lal, an untrained birthkeeper, was present during the birth. The inquest began in June, but closing submissions were delayed until this week to allow for the digital forensics of Warnecke's devices.

Rachel Ellyard, counsel assisting the coroner, presented messages from a WhatsApp group chat coordinated by Lal. These communications were part of a network for women choosing freebirth. Ellyard argued that this material directly contradicted Lal’s earlier claims that she acted merely as a supportive friend. Lal had told the court that Warnecke paid her for time, not for medical advice or guidance on avoiding hospital intervention.

A recorded call between the two women played in court illustrated the advice Lal provided. Warnecke expressed fear of hospitals, and Lal agreed, calling the institution terrifying. Lal advised that staying home required a specific mental state and warned that exhausted midwives might incorrectly recommend hospital transfers. This account stands in sharp contrast to Lal’s prior testimony that she only shared personal experiences without offering professional direction.

Ellyard characterized the arrangement as deliberate, noting that Lal sold supplements and provided referrals. The counsel suggested that Warnecke’s husband, Nathan, was indoctrinated into a passive role. Lal declined an invitation to return to the stand after the phone analysis. She had initially testified under a certificate of protection, which shields her evidence from future criminal proceedings. Ellyard told the coroner she could refer the matter to the Office of Public Prosecutions for perjury.

Medical evidence presented earlier indicated that Warnecke lost up to 1.5 liters of blood after delivery. She struggled to breathe, and Lal asked three times if she wanted an ambulance. Warnecke agreed on the third attempt, but arrived at the hospital seriously unwell. The hospital exhausted its blood supply while attempting to save her. Ellyard stated that Warnecke would have survived if treated in a hospital setting, a view supported by the fact that postpartum haemorrhage is rarely fatal in well-resourced medical facilities.

The coroner, Therese McCarthy, will deliver final findings at a later date. The review focuses on whether Lal’s initial evidence regarding the nature of her service was truthful. The potential referral would allow prosecutors to assess the case for criminal charges related to perjury. The outcome will determine how the legal system views the role of untrained birthkeepers in high-risk home births.