‘It must have been absolutely terrifying’: Molly Ticehurst’s murderer jailed, tell me about this news in (https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/other/it-must-have-been-absolutely-terrifying-molly-ticehurst-s-murderer-jailed/ar-AA2bZnBl?ocid=BingNewsVerp)
11-09-2026
The news reports that Daniel Billings has been sentenced to 28 years in prison (with a non-parole period of 20 years) in the New South Wales Supreme Court for the murder of his 28-year-old former partner, Molly Ticehurst.Key Details from the Case and Sentencing:
- The Incident: In the early hours of April 22, 2024, Billings broke into Ticehurst’s home in Forbes, NSW, and stabbed her 15 times in her bedroom in an attack lasting less than a minute.
- Motive and Context: The court determined that Billings murdered her in an act of revenge, retribution, and extreme hatred after she had previously reported allegations of domestic violence and sexual assault against him to the police. Justice Natalie Adams highlighted that by murdering her, Billings had also killed the sole witness in his pending rape trial.
- The Judge’s Remarks: In handing down the sentence, Justice Natalie Adams placed the crime in the high range of seriousness, noting he carried out the killing precisely in the manner he had repeatedly threatened. The judge remarked: “It must have been absolutely terrifying for Ms Ticehurst to die knowing her worst fears were realised.”
- Bail Controversy and Legal Reforms: Billings had been released on bail by a local court registrar roughly two weeks before the murder while facing multiple serious charges, despite police objections. The tragedy sparked widespread national outrage and led to significant legal changes in NSW regarding domestic violence bail laws, including stripping court registrars of the power to grant bail in such matters and strengthening bail thresholds.