Wallsend, near Newcastle, has been rocked by the arrest of a former midwife charged with manslaughter following the death of a baby during a home birth in 2024. The woman has now been granted conditional bail.
- Date of incident: 2–10 October 2024
- Location: Wallsend, near Newcastle, NSW
- Charges: Manslaughter, reckless grievous bodily harm
- Investigation: Strike Force Girona, Newcastle City Police District
- Status: Conditional bail granted after court appearance
Police allege that on Wednesday, 2 October 2024, a privately practising midwife attended a home in Wallsend to assist with a birth. Over the following two days, the midwife allegedly did not act on signs of complications or the mother’s requests to be taken to hospital.
On Friday, 4 October 2024, the mother attended John Hunter Hospital where the baby was delivered via emergency caesarean. Police were told that both the mother and baby suffered significant medical complications as a result of the incident.
On Thursday, 10 October 2024, the baby boy died in hospital. This prompted Newcastle City Police District officers to launch an investigation under Strike Force Girona.
Following extensive inquiries, detectives arrested a 36-year-old woman at Newcastle Police Station about 8.30am on Thursday, 14 August 2025. She was charged with manslaughter and reckless grievous bodily harm.
The woman appeared before Bail Division Court 2 the same day, where she was granted conditional bail. The matter remains before the court.
Police have not released further details as the matter is ongoing.