In a report released today, the Independent Police Conduct Authority has found that there were inadequacies in the initial Police investigation into the death of Rachel Molloy in May 2022, but that a subsequent investigation was thorough, as was a review of their actions. The publication of this report was delayed until Police completed their subsequent tasks.
In October 2024, Ms Molloy’s mother complained to the Authority regarding the Police investigation into the 2022 death of her daughter and how Police had treated Ms Molloy in a complaint from 2020.
On 6 June 2020, Ms Molloy was the victim of a crime where a large amount of her property was stolen from her inner-city apartment. It was later established that five people, four women and a man, had entered and taken the property. From the Police investigation, the five perpetrators were located and charged with varying offences. Three women pleaded guilty to theft and were dealt with. The fourth woman, and the man, pleaded not guilty and were due to defend charges at an Auckland District Court trial on 1 June 2022.
The Crown Prosecutor ultimately withdrew the charges against the fourth woman. In the end, the male pleaded guilty to burglary, along with other unconnected crimes, and was sentenced to imprisonment.
On 4 May 2022, Ms Molloy was living in a 2-bedroom flat in Mount Eden, Auckland. At 11.39pm a neighbour contacted Police to advise a woman was lying at the bottom of the flats outside stairs. A Police unit attended and found the woman, later established to be Ms Molloy, seriously injured. Ms Molloy never recovered consciousness and died in hospital.
The Police enquiry concluded that Ms Molloy had fallen on the stairs while intoxicated, suffering fatal injuries. They considered there were no suspicious circumstances. Ms Molloy’s mother asked Police to make further enquiries, particularly because in her view there were individuals who would benefit from her daughter’s death due to the pending criminal trial in which her daughter was the victim. Ms Molloy’s mother raised several concerns with Police but felt frustrated with their response.
When Ms Molloy’s mother complained to the Authority in 2024, Police reviewed the two cases. We also recommended Police conduct enquiries to eliminate potential suspects.
We are satisfied that Police robustly reviewed their 2020 and 2022 actions. Nevertheless, there is a lesson here regarding the victims of crime. Due to Ms Molloy’s victimisation in 2020, which severely impacted her life and wellbeing, Police failed to understand that her family might be similarly affected, no doubt compounded by the grief in dealing with her death.
We accept Police findings in relation to the events of 4 May 2022 that:
• The officers initially at the scene acted appropriately.
• The subsequent crime scene examination was inadequate, and conclusions were reached without full evidential consideration. At the least, the scene should have been secured for a potential re-assessment as well as consideration applied as to how it was returned to the next of kin as Ms Molloy’s blood was still on the concrete path.
• The communication with Ms Molloy’s family was inadequate and Police failed to appreciate and address their concerns.
We were also satisfied that Police eventually completed sufficient enquiries that justified a finding, on the information available, as to how Ms Molloy died.
In relation to Ms Molloy’s 2020 complaint, we accept that overall, Police responded appropriately with charges brought against all offenders. However, Police failures occurred regarding:
• an initial administration error and poor communication when Ms Molloy was incorrectly advised her report had been filed; and
• victim impact statements should have been prepared and presented at the sentencing of those convicted.
On 9 September 2026, a senior officer apologised to Ms Molloy’s mother and put in place a process where lessons can be learnt.
The Authority acknowledges the death of Ms Molloy and the difficult pathway her family have endured.
