Man who killed Molly Ticehurst faces family in court as father delivers searing victim impact statement

Tony Ticehurst addressed the court as Daniel Billings faces sentencing for the murder of his daughter. Billings pleaded guilty in November last year to breaking into her Forbes home late on April 21, 2024, and stabbing her 15 times. He also admitted to killing her pet dachshund with a hammer and breaching an apprehended violence order.

Mr Ticehurst told the court that "no sentence will ever be long enough" and that "when she died, a part of me died with her." He said he is no longer just Tony, but "the woman who was killed's father."

The case sparked nationwide outcry after it emerged Billings was out on bail at the time of the murder. In June 2024, NSW passed "Molly's Law," making electronic monitoring mandatory for certain domestic violence offenders on bail and requiring those accused of serious DV offences to demonstrate why they should be granted bail. Mr Ticehurst said he would be forever proud that the law was introduced in his daughter's wake.

Billings also faces charges for breaching the AVO. The sentencing hearing continues in Orange, about 100 kilometres east of Forbes.

Why This Matters

Victim impact statements in this case carry particular weight because the murder of Molly Ticehurst, while her killer was on bail, triggered a major reform of NSW bail laws for domestic violence offenders.
The case highlights the ongoing trauma for families of victims of intimate partner violence and the public scrutiny of how the justice system handles such cases.
The sentencing outcome will be closely watched as a test of the new bail laws' effectiveness and the seriousness with which the courts treat domestic violence murders.

Background

Molly Ticehurst, a 28-year-old childcare worker and mother, was killed in her home in Forbes, NSW, in April 2024. Daniel Billings, her ex-partner, had been charged with domestic violence offences and was on bail at the time of the murder. Her death prompted a public campaign for bail reform, leading to the passage of "Molly's Law" in June 2024, which tightened bail conditions for serious domestic violence offenders and introduced mandatory electronic monitoring.

Key Perspectives

Family of Molly Ticehurst: They have used the court hearing to express their profound grief and anger, with Tony Ticehurst's direct address to the killer capturing the emotional toll. The family has also expressed pride in the legislative legacy of Molly's Law. Daniel Billings: He pleaded guilty to murder and related charges in November 2024, avoiding a trial. His legal team will likely argue for a sentence that accounts for his early plea and any mitigating factors. Domestic violence advocates and legal observers: The case is seen as a landmark for bail reform. Advocates will be watching whether the sentence reflects the seriousness of a murder committed while on bail and whether the reforms are having a deterrent effect.

What to Watch

The length of the sentence handed down by Justice Sutherland, as it will set a benchmark for similar cases.
Any statements from the court about the failure of the bail system prior to the reforms.
Community reaction and potential further calls for reform if the sentence is perceived as lenient.

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