Prosecutors have been advised to communicate with the grieving family of Molly Ticehurst, as the case against the individual accused of her murder due to domestic violence remains unresolved 16 months after her tragic death.
Daniel Billings, aged 30, is currently under indictment for the murder of Ticehurst at her residence in Forbes, situated in the central western region of New South Wales, on the early hours of April 22, 2024.
Billings has yet to enter a plea regarding the charges brought against him.
During a brief court appearance in the Parkes Local Court on Friday morning, the Legal Aid solicitor representing Billings, Diane Elston, petitioned for an adjournment of the case, citing ongoing negotiations between the legal teams involved.
She noted that there remains “some work to be done” following the scheduled meetings of the prosecution and defense teams in August.
Magistrate Brett Thomas assented to a seven-week deferment, deeming it in the interest of the community, the victim’s family, the defendant, and the Crown.
However, Thomas acknowledged the protracted wait for Ticehurst’s relatives, who have dutifully attended each of Billings’ court appearances.
Thus, prosecutors were counseled to establish communication with the family to explain the current state of the proceedings.
Deputy senior crown prosecutor Lee Carr SC, appearing from Sydney, concurred with the suggestion.
Billings, Ticehurst’s ex-boyfriend, had previously been released on bail by a local court registrar two weeks before the alleged murder. He was facing charges that included three counts of sexual intercourse without consent against Ticehurst.
He was also indicted for four counts of stalking and intimidation towards Ticehurst, the destruction of her property, and aggravated cruelty against her 12-week-old dachshund puppy, in addition to four more grave offenses, including one count of aggravated sexual assault, which were formalized in December 2024.
Post her death, legislative amendments were introduced in NSW. These legal changes disallowed registrars from granting bail and implemented “show cause” benchmarks for bail applications linked to domestic violence.
Moreover, a specialized bail division within the local court was established in July, streamlining the processing of bail applications within virtual court settings.
Billings’ legal proceedings are set to reconvene on October 3.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/aug/15/molly-ticehurst-murder-case-daniel-billings-adjournment-ntwnfb
