Paul Thijssen, in order to obtain a visa, forged documents, deceptively claimed to pursue studies, and meticulously rehearsed including staging “dry runs” for the murder of 21-year-old water polo coach Lilie James. This information came out during a coronial inquest into their deaths. James’s body was discovered with severe head injuries in the bathroom of St Andrew’s Cathedral school where she worked in October 2023.
Following James’s death, there was an immediate search for Thijssen, 23, who had a brief relationship with James that ended just days before her demise. His body was later found in the ocean near cliffs in Sydney’s eastern suburbs. The inquest, initiated on Tuesday, revealed that counsel assisting the NSW coroner, Jennifer Single SC, stated the murder was well-planned.
According to Single, Thijssen had stalked James and rehearsed her murder, performing multiple “dry runs.” After killing James, Thijssen took her phone and drove to Vaucluse. The police could not locate James’s phone or Thijssen’s regular phone, but found a backpack with an older phone along with clothes and other items.
Thijssen disposed of his usual phone and James’s phone, possibly taking them with him when he went over the cliff at Diamond Bay. There were several stressors in Thijssen’s life leading up to the deaths, including the state of his work visa. He had forged documents for various visa applications, including references, job descriptions, and pay slips.
Thijssen, raised in the Netherlands, initially came to Australia with his parents between 2015 and 2017, where he became a sports captain and prefect at St Andrew’s. He had returned multiple times on a working holiday visa, which has specific requirements such as working in agriculture, tourism, or mining.
Thijssen was on his third and final working holiday visa. To obtain his previous visas, he forged documents claiming he worked as a “farmhand” at Kirrikee, St Andrew’s outdoor education center. He also lied to his family and friends about his studies, claiming he was enrolled in a Masters of Teaching program at the University of Sydney.
However, there were no records of such study at the University of Sydney or any other Sydney university. The money his parents had set aside for his studies remained unspent. The inquest is ongoing. It concludes with information on crisis support services, such as Lifeline on 13 11 14 and the national family violence counseling service on 1800 737 732.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/mar/18/lillie-james-murder-ex-boyfriend-paul-thijssen-st-andrews-cathedral-school-ntwnfb
