22 Dec 2021

Woman charged with murder over five-year-old Tauranga boy's death

12:44 pm on 22 December 2021

A woman has been charged with murdering a five-year-old and disfiguring him before his death.

Malachi Subecz.

Malachi Subecz. Photo: Supplied / NZ Police

The woman's sister has been charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice in the investigation into Malachi Subecz.

Both were to appear in Tauranga District Court on Wednesday.

Malachi was found with injuries at a Te Puna property on 1 November and treated in Tauranga Hospital.

He was subsequently airlifted to Starship Hospital in Auckland, where he died on 12 November.

Michaela Barriball, 27, has been charged with murder, disfiguring with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, and injuring with intent to injure.

She has previously been charged with ill-treating Malachi prior to his death.

Her sister, Sharron Barriball, 37, is also due to appear on a charge of attempting to pervert the course of justice relating to the investigation of Malachi's death.