Former midwife seeks judge-alone trial

A former midwife will appear in the Supreme Court for the first time over the death of two babies during home births.

Former midwife Lisa Barrett

Former midwife Lisa Barrett is charged over the deaths of two babies during home births. (AAP)

A former South Australian midwife charged with two counts of manslaughter over the deaths of two babies during home births will push for a trial by judge alone.

Lisa Barrett pleaded not guilty in the South Australian Supreme Court on Monday over the deaths of Tully Kavanagh in October 2011 and another baby, who can't be named, in December 2012.

Prosecutors have indicated up to 40 witnesses could be called at a trial.

After an inquest in 2012, South Australian Deputy Coroner Anthony Schapel found that Tully Kavanagh, the second of twins his mother planned to have at home, would have survived had he been delivered in a hospital.

He made similar findings in relation to the deaths of two other babies who died during home births in which Ms Barrett was involved.

Those two other births are not the subject of any charges.

Counsel for Barrett on Monday indicated she had applied to face trial by judge alone, but no decision has been made by the court.

Justice Greg Parker continued Barrett's bail and she will reappear in court for a directions hearing later this month.


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Source: AAP


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