Robyn James faces court for alleged manslaughter over Vicki Butler’s death

A Brisbane doctor who allegedly assisted a home birth that caused the death of a mother did not tell paramedics she was a medical professional when they turned up, a court has heard.

Vicki Butler, 41, tragically died in hospital after complications following the birth of her child.

A Brisbane doctor who allegedly assisted a home birth that caused the death of a mother did not tell paramedics she was a medical professional when they arrived, a court has heard.

Medical practitioner Robyn Mary James was charged with one count of manslaughter over the death of Ipswich mother Vicki Butler following her home birth on December 27, 2017.

She faced a committal hearing in Ipswich Magistrates Court on Wednesday.

Crown prosecutor Clayton Wallis said there were 13 witnesses in the case including a forensic pathologist, forensic medical officer and an obstetrician.

Queensland Ambulance Service officer Mark Zimmerman, who appeared as a witness in court, said there was a large amount of blood in the bathtub where Ms Butler was found.

“When blood is exposed to air, it turns to clots. It was mixed with water so it was hard to estimate the actual blood loss,” he said.

“There wasn’t any active bleeding at that stage.

“There are small, medium and large clots … that was pretty much across the bathtub.”

Mr Zimmerman said his team arrived at the Ipswich residence around 6.50am and left the scene just 12 minutes later to transport Ms Butler to Ipswich Hospital, which was located just a block apart.

Vicki Butler, or Vicki Sturgess passed away after bringing her new healthy baby boy into the world on December 27, 2017.

Friends from the qualified teacher’s homeschooling group paid tribute to a loving and caring mother.

His colleague Ivana Dragic said Dr James was in the bathroom performing ineffective CPR for Ms Butler.

“When I walked into the house, there was a woman above the patient doing CPR in a semirecumbent position,” she said.

“When we’re taught CPR, we’re taught to put them against a flat surface so that we can get recoil of our hands and ensure that we’re getting the correct depth, and that was not occurring there.”

Ms Dragic said the woman did not give her name or state that she was a doctor.

“(She told me) it was a home birth and that her friend had called her to help deliver the baby,” she said.

“As we were leaving, she handed me the placenta and said the hospital would want to see this.”

Dr Robyn Mary James leaves Ipswich courthouse on February 12, 2025. Picture: Grace Koo

Ms Butler’s former husband Anthony Sturgess, who had a relationship with her for 14 years before their separation three years before her death, said his ex-wife told her a plan a couple of months before the delivery.

“I got the name of Dr Robyn, and (my ex-wife told me) she was a great lady, and I found her through some friends of mine via some way,” he said.

“She was the one going to be the lady doing the birth.

“I found Dr Robyn to be extremely evasive, and she would answer with very little when I asked her questions about the specifics and processes of how they work.”

Ten witnesses that included Ms Butler’s children, former partners and a friend were cross-examined.

Magistrate Robert Walker adjourned the hearing to Thursday.

According to Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency, the suspended doctor, who specialises in general practice, first registered in 1997.

Originally published as Robyn James faces court for alleged manslaughter over Vicki Butler’s death