Sitting in court with Molly Ticehurst's killer 'extremely confronting'
A childhood friend of Molly Ticehurst has found it difficult to sit in court and listen to debate about her killer's mental health.
A friend of murdered childcare worker Molly Ticehurst described sitting in the same room as her killer, Daniel Billings, as "extremely confronting" during a sentencing hearing in the Supreme Court. Billings pleaded guilty to the domestic violence murder of Ticehurst in Forbes, New South Wales, on April 21, 2024. The hearing revealed that Billings had an obsessive fixation on how rape allegations made by his ex-partner would impact his future, which was a significant factor in his tragic actions.
The court heard that Billings' severe depression and anger towards Ticehurst, stemming from six months of domestic violence and coercive control, were key factors in the murder. Justice Natalie Adams will determine the final sentence, which will consider the extent to which Billings' depressive illness contributed to the crime.
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