Warning: This story contains details that some may find distressing.
Family of murdered 5 year old Malachi Subecz have revealed heartbreaking new details about the days leading up to his death in 2021 and how their fears for his life were ignored by Oranga Tamariki.
The family immediately had fears about Michaela Barriball, the woman who took over care of Malachi after his mother was jailed.
His aunt Helen Menzies had a "gut instinct" that something was wrong. She told Newshub Nation, "I said he won't be here at the end of the year."
Family members reported their concerns to Oranga Tamariki alongside a photograph of suspected abuse, but there was no further action.
In a sleepout at the back of her Tauranga property, Michaela Barribal put Malachi through what High Court Justice Paul Davison called "nothing less than torture".
In an interview with Newshub Nation, Chief Ombudsman Peter Boshier condemned Oranga Tamariki's failure to act, stating that they were "bound to tell the Police… and it failed even to do that. This is one of the most severe failures I've ever encountered."
Watch the full video for more.
Watch Newshub Nation 9:30am Saturday/10am Sunday on TV3 and follow us on Facebook and Twitter. NZ On Air supports Newshub Nation.
