health
Inquest into Melbourne influencer’s death following freebirth halted after new phone evidence discovered
Coroner tells inquiry new material ‘of such significance’ any findings must be postponed so information can be analysed
TL;DR
- The inquest into the death of Stacey Warnecke, who had a home birth without medical professionals, has been adjourned.
- New evidence from a forensic analysis of Warnecke's mobile phone has come to light.
- The birthkeeper, Emily Lal, testified that her role was primarily supportive and she was not medically trained or responsible for calling an ambulance unless asked.
- Warnecke suffered a postpartum haemorrhage and died in hospital.
- Medical experts stated that Warnecke's condition was treatable with timely intervention from a midwife or hospital staff.
- The court deemed the new phone evidence significant enough to warrant further investigation and a delay in findings.