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Solved case · 2021
The short answer
Malachi Subecz, a five-year-old boy, was violently abused and killed by his caregiver Michaela Barriball in Te Puna, New Zealand, in November 2021, prompting two critical government reviews of the child protection agency Oranga Tamariki.
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Suggest coverage for Murder of Malachi SubeczThe case file
Malachi Rain Subecz was a five-year-old child who was abused and killed by his caregiver Michaela Barriball in Te Puna, New Zealand, in November 2021. In June 2021, Subecz's biological mother Jasmine Cotter was imprisoned on drug charges, and at her request, Subecz was placed in Barriball's care in September 2021. While in her care, he was subjected to sustained physical abuse and neglect. Staff at his daycare centre, Abbey's Place, noticed significant injuries but did not report them to authorities. In late October 2021 he was hospitalised with severe burns, and on 1 November 2021 Barriball inflicted head injuries that led to his death at Starship Hospital on 12 November 2021.
Following his hospitalisation, police searched the property where he had lived; Barriball's sister Sharon attempted to hide evidence. In May 2022, Barriball pleaded guilty to murder, two charges of ill-treating a child, and injuring with intent to injure. Sharon pleaded guilty to attempting to pervert the course of justice. On 30 June 2022, Barriball was sentenced at the Rotorua High Court to a minimum of 17 years' imprisonment; Sharon received six months' home detention.
The case prompted significant scrutiny of Oranga Tamariki, the government agency responsible for child welfare. In October 2022, Chief Ombudsman Peter Boshier released a report describing the agency's response as "a litany of failures." A second report by Dame Karen Poutasi in December 2022 examined multiple agencies and made 14 recommendations, nine of which the Government initially accepted. A 2024 follow-up assessment found the child protection system had not meaningfully improved since Subecz's death.
Disciplinary consequences followed: Abbey's Place Childcare Centre lost its operating licence in October 2022, and three senior Oranga Tamariki staff who worked on Subecz's case left the agency, two by resignation and one by dismissal.
A coronial inquest began in July 2025 at the Coroners' Court in Auckland, presided over by Coroner Janet Anderson. On 11 February 2026, Coroner Anderson released findings concluding that authorities had missed opportunities to prevent Subecz's abuse and death, and she urged further action on mandatory reporting and protections for children of imprisoned sole caregivers.
15 dated entries · 2021–2025
Malachi Subecz's mother, Jasmine Cotter, is imprisoned on drug charges.
Subecz is placed in the care of Michaela Barriball in Te Puna, New Zealand.
Barriball inflicts blunt force injuries on Subecz, causing a seizure; he is hospitalised at Starship Hospital with a brain haemorrhage and placed in an induced coma.
Subecz is extubated at Starship Hospital.
Subecz dies from his injuries.
Police find a suitcase containing Subecz's clothes, including blood-stained pyjamas, at the property.
Barriball pleads guilty to murder, two charges of ill-treating a child, and injuring with intent to injure; her sister Sharon pleads guilty to attempting to pervert the course of justice.
Barriball is sentenced at Rotorua High Court to a minimum of 17 years' imprisonment; Sharon Barriball is sentenced to six months' home detention.
The Ministry of Education places Abbey's Place Childcare Centre on a provisional licence.
Chief Ombudsman Peter Boshier releases a critical report on Oranga Tamariki's handling of the case; Abbey's Place Childcare Centre's operating licence is revoked.
Dame Karen Poutasi's independent report is released, making 14 recommendations; three senior Oranga Tamariki staff leave the agency.
The Independent Children's Monitor releases a follow-up assessment finding the child protection system had not improved since Subecz's death.
A coronial inquest into Subecz's death opens at the Coroners' Court in Auckland.
The coronial inquest concludes.
Coroner Janet Anderson releases the findings of the coronial inquiry.
3 named in this file
Victims first. Every legal label is set from public records and court outcomes, not from the prose.
Five-year-old child abused and killed by his caregiver in November 2021.[4]
Pleaded guilty to murder, two charges of ill-treating a child, and injuring with intent to injure; sentenced to a minimum of 17 years' imprisonment.[4]
Pleaded guilty to attempting to pervert the course of justice by removing evidence; sentenced to six months' home detention.[4]
From the record
4 cited
Coverage is not a source: every fact in this file rests on the records below.
PressRNZAccessed Jul 11, 2026
Pressstuff.co.nzAccessed Jul 10, 2026
Pressnzherald.co.nzAccessed Jul 10, 2026
EncyclopedicWikipediaAccessed Jul 10, 2026
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