In Australia, Molly Ticehurst’s former partner sentenced to 28 years in prison
In the Australian city of Forbes, New South Wales, Molly Ticehurst’s former partner, Daniel Billings, was sentenced to 28 years in prison for her murder. The minimum non-parole period is 20 years, ABC News Australia reports.
The 28-year-old Ticehurst was killed in April 2024 at her home in Forbes. According to the outlet, Billings entered her bedroom through a window and inflicted multiple stab wounds, spending 59 seconds inside the house. The woman’s son stayed with his father that night.
Contacting police and bail
Sixteen days before her death, Ticehurst contacted police, saying that she feared for her life. On April 5, 2024, Billings was arrested on charges including stalking, intimidation, animal cruelty and rape.
According to ABC News Australia, police told Ticehurst that detectives would deal with her rape reports later, but this did not happen. The following day, during a hearing in Dubbo, a court registrar allowed Billings to be released on bail. The police prosecutor outlined the seriousness of the charges but did not explicitly oppose bail.
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After his release, Billings was prohibited from approaching Ticehurst under a protection order. The outlet notes that the promised security measures had not yet been installed at her home at that time.
Threats and changes to bail rules
Ticehurst told friends about threats from her former partner. According to her, he said that he could get to her faster than police could arrive. She also stated that Billings raped her twice, including once while threatening her with a knife.
After Ticehurst’s death, New South Wales authorities announced reforms to bail rules. The changes include electronic monitoring of defendants, abolishing the presumption in favor of bail for defendants, and requiring all bail hearings to be conducted by magistrates rather than court registrars.
Ticehurst’s family and friends expressed disappointment that Billings’ criminal record would not include the full list of original charges, among which were several allegations of sexual offences. The state government conducted a review of the support services provided to Ticehurst and said it would publish it after the Billings case was concluded.
