Daniel Billings has been sentenced to at least 20 years in prison for the murder of his ex-girlfriend, Molly Ticehurst. The sentence was handed down in the NSW Supreme Court in Orange on Friday morning.
Ms Ticehurst, a 28-year-old childcare worker, was found dead in her home in Forbes on April 22, 2024. Billings, her former boyfriend, broke into her bedroom and fatally stabbed her 15 times with a hunting knife in an attack that lasted less than a minute. Justice Natalie Adams described the murder as being in the high range of seriousness, noting that Billings had repeatedly threatened to kill Ms Ticehurst in the months leading up to her death.
These threats escalated after Ms Ticehurst ended their on-again, off-again relationship in December 2023 and subsequently reported allegations of sexual assault to the police. Billings was also charged with killing Ms Ticehurst's puppy with a hammer following an earlier breakup. A provisional apprehended violence order was issued against Billings, prohibiting him from entering Forbes.
Billings was briefly taken into police custody but was released on bail by a local court registrar two weeks before the murder, as no judge was available that weekend. Upon his release, Billings became fixated on the belief he had been wrongfully accused and felt wronged by the justice system, including an incident where he claimed police mishpered his boxing team singlet. In recorded videos made hours before the murder, Billings detailed his intent to harm Ms Ticehurst in retribution.
Justice Adams sentenced Billings to a maximum of 28 years, finding that his actions were driven by retribution, revenge, and extreme hatred after Ms Ticehurst reported the sexual assault allegations. The judge also stated that Billings committed a serious public justice offense by killing the primary witness in his potential rape trial. The court offered condolences to Ms Ticehurst's family, acknowledging the significant impact of her death.
Billings pleaded guilty to murder after more than 500 days of legal proceedings, during which the sexual assault charges were dropped in November 2025. Charges including property damage, animal cruelty, and breaching the apprehended violence order were considered in sentencing. Billings will be eligible for parole in April 2044.
Ms Ticehurst's murder has amplified the national campaign against domestic and gendered violence. The movement has contributed to changes in NSW laws, including measures to restrict the power of registrars to grant bail, altered 'show cause' thresholds for domestic violence bail applications, and provisions for electronic monitoring of accused individuals.
Resources for those affected by domestic violence are available through 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732), Lifeline (13 11 14), and the Men's Referral Service (1300 766 491).