System failures: Molly Ticehurst's loved ones speak out on domestic violence

Molly Ticehurst's closest friends and family have spoken out about the failures of the system designed to protect women and children, following her tragic murder in central western New South Wales.

As Molly's mother Kate Shaw and best friend Meg Sladek packed up her house after her death, they received a shocking reminder of the limitations of the protection measures in place. "The postman arrived with a yellow document. We went to the mailbox to get it out, and it was her AVO," Ms Sladek said. "Kate's words were: 'Fat lot of good that was, wasn't it?'"

The 28-year-old childcare worker was killed in her home at Forbes in April 2024 by her former partner, Daniel Billings, 31, who has been sentenced to 28 years in jail. Molly's friends, Gaby Shepherd, Meg Sladek, and Aidan Clarke, believe alleged offenders should not be granted bail, saying it puts women at risk.

Failures of the System

Molly Ticehurst endured months of abuse before going to the police, her father, Tony Ticehurst, said. "I believe that she didn't have faith in the system and it let her down in the end," he said. "She was promised the world and given a street map."

An apprehended violence order (AVO) was served on Daniel Billings after he was charged with sexual assault and domestic violence offences. However, two weeks later, he broke into Molly's home and killed her.

"An AVO is not worth the paper it's written on; I wouldn't even waste the ink," Mr Clarke said.

Calls for Change

Molly's murder inspired bail reforms, which make it harder for alleged perpetrators to get bail. However, her friends and family believe more needs to be done. "They don't need to be out on the street. Let them have their day in court, but let's make these victims feel safe," Mr Clarke said.

Anne-Marie Mioche of CatholicCare Wilcannia-Forbes echoed their concerns, saying the onus should be on locking up alleged offenders to keep women and children safe.

"Police don't have a crystal ball, so they can't tell whether the threat is going to be acted on, and we don't either," Ms Mioche said. "The laws need to change in favour of the victims of domestic violence and their rights, as opposed to the civil rights of the perpetrators."

Rural Policing Challenges

Molly's hometown of Forbes lacks 24-hour policing, with the closest overnight station 30 kilometres away. Mayor Phyllis Miller said this lack of policing puts women at risk. "Women in rural and regional New South Wales or Australia are not safe," Cr Miller said. "We do not have enough police."