Home birth babies would have lived if born in hospital, court hears
Prosecutors will argue babies delivered by a South Australian home birth advocate, charged with two counts of manslaughter, would have lived if they were born in hospital.
It follows the arrest of Lisa Barrett, 50, on Tuesday following a lengthy investigation into the deaths in October 2011 and December 2012.
Barrett was released on bail after she was arrested at the Adelaide Hills home she shares with her husband and teenage son on Tuesday.
It’s alleged the well-known home birth advocate was responsible for the deaths of Tully Kavanagh in October 2011, and an unnamed baby in December 2012.
A court was told, during an intercepted phone call, Barrett was heard telling a mother “if you say I was your midwife, I’ll go to jail”.
Prosecutors said it was a deliberate effort to avoid detection.
The magistrate granted strict bail conditions with Barrett barred from undertaking or encouraging anyone to undertake a home birth and to remove her website.
She will return to court in August.
