Paul Thijssen attempted to control, manipulate, and gaslight Lilie James as she tried to leave their short relationship, according to a coronial inquest into their deaths. James’s body was discovered with severe head injuries in a school bathroom where she worked as a water polo coach. Thijssen, who worked at the school as a sports coach, was later found dead in the ocean near Sydney’s cliffs. The inquest heard that Thijssen stalked and meticulously planned James’s murder after tensions escalated between the two. Kate Fitz-Gibbon and Anna Butler, experts in family violence prevention and investigation, were certain that Thijssen exercised coercive control over James. They cited examples of physical and digital stalking, as well as instances of aggressive behavior. Thijssen’s loss of control over various aspects of his life, including his visa status and a fake Snapchat account, was considered a trigger point. The inquest also found evidence of similar stalking behavior in Thijssen’s previous relationship. Statements from James’s family and the eSafety commissioner will be heard before the inquest concludes.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/mar/20/lilie-james-murder-inquest-domestic-violence-experts-coercive-control-ntwnfb