Inquest into Malachi Subecz’s death exposes systemic failures and a mother’s regret

At the coroner’s inquest into the 2021 murder of five-year-old Malachi Subecz, his mother Jasmine Cotter delivered an emotional and vulnerable testimony, shedding new light on her past and the events that led to placing her son in the care of his killer, Michaela Barriball.

Cotter, who had a traumatic childhood and later became entangled in a drug syndicate, admitted she was a “people-pleaser” who lacked confidence and sought to avoid conflict. Her decision to appoint Barriball as Malachi’s caregiver instead of his loving family stemmed from fears of losing access to him while in prison. She believed Oranga Tamariki had vetted Barriball, but they hadn’t. Despite numerous warnings from Malachi’s extended family and daycare staff, authorities failed to intervene, even as signs of abuse became increasingly visible.

The inquest revealed harrowing details of Malachi’s final weeks, during which he was beaten, starved, and ultimately fatally injured by Barriball. Medical experts described the prolonged abuse as “arguably torture.” The hearings highlighted systemic issues within Oranga Tamariki and law enforcement, including missed opportunities to act, understaffing, poor training, and insufficient resourcing.

some reforms have been implemented, frontline workers and experts alike stressed that deeper, enduring change is needed to prevent future tragedies.