Police apologise to mother of Rachel Molloy who died after supposed fall down concrete stairs
New Zealand police have issued a formal apology to the mother of Rachel Molloy for their inadequate investigation into her 2022 death. Initially treated as an accidental fall, the case was mishandled despite Molloy being a key witness in a sexual assault trial.
Why it matters
The apology highlights systemic failures in police investigative standards and provides a measure of closure for a grieving family seeking justice.
Police have apologised to the mother of a woman who died after a supposed fall down a flight of stairs for their handling of the case.
Late on 4 May 2022, Rachel Molloy was found at the bottom of the 10 concrete stairs that led up to her central Auckland flat.
Despite knowing the 30-year-old was both the alleged victim and central witness in an upcoming sexual assault trial, the fall - and her death - were treated as an accident.
Earlier this week, more than four years after Rachel's death, her mother Mandy received a personal apology from Auckland police.
On Thursday morning, Mandy told RNZ's John Campbell the apology "far exceeded" her expectations.
"They said that the investigation was not at a standard anyone should expect from New Zealand police.
"I think the biggest feeling I got from that was that it was genuine."
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