Daniel Billings sentenced to 28 years for murder of Molly Ticehurst

Daniel Billings, 31, has been sentenced to 28 years in jail for the murder of childcare worker Molly Ticehurst, 28, who was stabbed multiple times at her home in Forbes.

Justice Natalie Adams handed down the sentence at the Orange Supreme Court, imposing a non-parole period of 20 years. Billings pleaded guilty to the offence in November last year.

Details of the crime

On April 21, 2024, Billings broke into Ticehurst's home through a bedroom window and stabbed her several times, including in the face and neck. The court heard that Billings was on bail for charges against Ticehurst, including sexual assault, stalking, and intimidation, at the time of the murder.

"Mr Billings was aware that Ms Ticehurst had previously told police about her fears that he would break through the window and get to her before police could get there," Justice Adams said. "Mr Billings ultimately chose to carry out the fatal assault by doing exactly what he threatened to do."

Impact on the victim's family

The court heard that Ticehurst's father, Tony Ticehurst, had expressed the immense pain of losing his daughter, and that he lives with ongoing trauma, struggling to sleep at night and replaying what happened over and over in his mind.

Justice Adams noted that the victim impact statements read to the court during the sentencing hearing included one from Ticehurst's father, who spoke about the impact of her death on her son, who experiences nightmares about being stabbed in his bedroom.

Sentence and reaction

The total sentence was 35 years, but was discounted to 28 years due to Billings's guilty plea. Billings will first be eligible for parole on April 19, 2044.

Aidan Clarke, a childhood friend of Ticehurst, said the community would "always grieve" her loss. "We finally have come to the end of this process, and now we move on to the next," he said. "Learning to live without her."

However, Phil Donato, the independent member for Orange and former police prosecutor, criticised the sentence, saying it did not provide adequate deterrence. "This is a matter that was going to draw a line in the sand to stamp out domestic violence, to send a strong message to the community. I don't think it's done that," he said.