IPCA says police mishandled investigation of Rachel Molloy's fatal fall
The Independent Police Conduct Authority found that detectives failed to properly secure the scene and gather evidence after Rachel Mollo died from a fall at her Auckland flat.
An IPCA review of the May 4, 2022 death of Rachel Mollo in Mt Eden concluded that police investigators did not objectively examine the scene after her fall. While the first responders were praised, subsequent detectives failed to collect fingerprints and to secure the location. The authority also criticized the lack of adequate communication with Mollo's relatives.
Superintendent Sunny Patel, Auckland City District Commander, confirmed that police met with the family, offered apologies, and pledged to uphold rigorous investigative standards. The incident occurred at the base of ten concrete steps leading to Mollo's central Auckland apartment, where she was both a victim and a key witness in an upcoming sexual assault trial. The IPCA's findings highlight procedural gaps in handling such cases.
Why it matters
It reveals shortcomings in police procedures that could affect future investigations and public trust.
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