Second woman charged over Newcastle home birth death

newy.com.au – A second woman has been charged over the death of a baby after an attempted home birth in Wallsend, with the latest arrest widening a case that first reached court last year when privately practising midwife Oyebola Coxon was accused over the same death.

Police allege the home birth began on 2 October 2024 and continued for two days despite signs of complications and the mother’s requests to go to hospital. The woman later attended John Hunter Hospital, where the baby boy was delivered by emergency caesarean on 4 October. The newborn died in hospital on 10 October, and Strike Force Girona was established to investigate.

The first charge was laid on 14 August 2025, when Coxon, 36, was charged with manslaughter and recklessly causing grievous bodily harm. She was granted conditional bail and is due back in court for a committal hearing on 15 April, with no plea yet entered.

Detectives arrested Jordan Michaela Holland, 28, at Newcastle Police Station about 7am on Friday and charged her with manslaughter. NSW Police said she was initially refused bail, but later on Friday Judge James Viney granted her release on strict conditions, including that she not engage in nursing or midwifery work, not contact prosecution witnesses, not apply for a passport and report weekly to Maitland Police Station.

Both women remain before the court. Police allege the mother and baby suffered significant medical complications during the attempted home birth, and no pleas have yet been entered in either matter.