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Murder of Malachi Subecz

SOLVED2021Te Puna, Bay of Plenty, New Zealand4 SOURCESUPDATED JUL 2026
Illustrative

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.

Key facts

Victims
Malachi Subecz
Date
2021
Location
Te Puna, Bay of Plenty, New Zealand
Case status
solved

Case timeline

  1. 2021-06

    Malachi Subecz's mother, Jasmine Cotter, is imprisoned on drug charges.

  2. 2021-09

    Subecz is placed in the care of Michaela Barriball in Te Puna, New Zealand.

  3. 2021-11-01

    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.

  4. 2021-11-10

    Subecz is extubated at Starship Hospital.

  5. 2021-11-12

    Subecz dies from his injuries.

  6. 2021-11-16

    Police find a suitcase containing Subecz's clothes, including blood-stained pyjamas, at the property.

  7. 2022-05

    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.

  8. 2022-06-30

    Barriball is sentenced at Rotorua High Court to a minimum of 17 years' imprisonment; Sharon Barriball is sentenced to six months' home detention.

  9. 2022-07

    The Ministry of Education places Abbey's Place Childcare Centre on a provisional licence.

  10. 2022-10

    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.

  11. 2022-12

    Dame Karen Poutasi's independent report is released, making 14 recommendations; three senior Oranga Tamariki staff leave the agency.

  12. 2024-08

    The Independent Children's Monitor releases a follow-up assessment finding the child protection system had not improved since Subecz's death.

  13. 2025-07-14

    A coronial inquest into Subecz's death opens at the Coroners' Court in Auckland.

  14. 2025-07-25

    The coronial inquest concludes.

  15. 2025-02-11

    Coroner Janet Anderson releases the findings of the coronial inquiry.

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People

  • Michaela Barriball

    CONVICTED

    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.

  • Sharon Barriball

    CONVICTED

    Pleaded guilty to attempting to pervert the course of justice by removing evidence; sentenced to six months' home detention.

  • Malachi Subecz

    VICTIM

    Five-year-old child abused and killed by his caregiver in November 2021.

Roles reflect public records and court outcomes at the time of writing — supporting citations are on file under Sources.

Places

Te Puna, Bay of Plenty, New Zealand

-37.6833, 176.1333

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Common questions

What happened to the victim?
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.
Where did the murder happen?
Te Puna, Bay of Plenty, New Zealand.
Who was convicted?
Michaela Barriball (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.) and Sharon Barriball (Pleaded guilty to attempting to pervert the course of justice by removing evidence; sentenced to six months' home detention.).
What is the current status of the case?
Status: solved.
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Sources

  1. PRESS'Victim of unspeakable cruelty and deliberate evil': Coroner's findings on Malachi Subecz deathRNZ · 2026-07-11
  2. ENCYCLOPEDICMurder of Malachi SubeczWikipedia · 2026-07-10
  3. PRESSTwo more adults tried to save Malachi, Oranga Tamariki did not act, family saystuff.co.nz · 2026-07-10
  4. PRESSBeaten, burnt and killed: Woman imprisoned after prolonged abuse killing of 5yo Malachi Subecznzherald.co.nz · 2026-07-10