Dad’s heartbreak over delays in daughter’s murder case
The heartbroken father of murdered childcare educator Molly Ticehurst believes the legal system is still failing his daughter as the case against the accused killer faces further delays.
Ms Ticehurst, 28, was found dead at her home in Forbes, NSW, in the early hours of April 22, 2024.
Her ex-boyfriend, 30-year-old Daniel Billings, was charged with domestic violence-related murder later the same day.
Billings had been granted bail by the local court clerk two weeks before the alleged murder, despite multiple charges relating to the rape of Miss Ticehurst and other domestic violence offences.
Police had obtained a provisional violence arrest warrant against Billings on behalf of Ms. Ticehurst.
He is accused of violating the order on the night of the murder.
More than 18 months later, the case against Billings was not brought to the Supreme Court and he did not enter a defense.
During a brief appearance at Forbes Local Court on Monday, Billings’ Legal Aid barrister Diane Elston said the case was not ready to progress because she was unable to have a final face-to-face meeting with him at Goulburn prison.
The industrial action by Corrective Services NSW officers on Thursday interfered with a meeting scheduled to review legal documents, the court was told.
While the case was adjourned until November 14, Billings remained in the maximum security section of the prison in southern NSW.
It was the latest in a series of delays during months of legal negotiations.
Outside court, Ms Ticehurst’s father Tony became emotional as he described the pain caused by the ongoing legal delays.
“I would like to express my disappointment at yet another delay in Molly’s case,” Mr Ticehurst told reporters.
“It seems to me that in life the system failed Molly, and in death it continued the same way.
“Instead of closure, all we get is anxiety, sadness, and heartache.”
Mr. Ticehurst said he had been in contact with local MP Philip Donato, who offered to raise concerns about the delays with the state attorney general’s office.
Billings faces 17 charges, including aggravated sexual assault, various harassment, intimidation and property damage.
On October 27, a new charge of animal cruelty was laid in relation to Ms Ticehurst’s puppy.
The alleged murder of Ms Ticehurst intensified a national campaign against domestic and gender-based violence.
The move has led to changes to NSW laws, including the removal of registrars’ power to grant bail, “show cause” thresholds for bail applications for domestic violence and electronic monitoring of defendants.
Many of Ms. Ticehurst’s family and friends attended court whenever Billings’ case was mentioned.
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