'Monster' who killed Molly Ticehurst to learn fate after pleading guilty

Friday, 12 December 2025 13:08

Molly Ticehurst's killer will finally be forced to face her family in person when he is sentenced for her murder more than two years after he broke into her bedroom and stabbed her.

Daniel Billings, 30, was arraigned in the NSW Supreme Court in Sydney today and confirmed his plea of guilty over Ticehurst's 2024 murder.

"Guilty, Your Honour," Billings told Justice Dina Yehia via audio-visual link from the supermax wing of Goulburn jail.

The judge set a two-day sentence hearing to be held in Orange, central western NSW, on June 1, 2026.

He will be required to appear in person.

Ticehurst, a 28-year-old childcare educator, was found dead in her home at Forbes, in the state's central west, in the early hours of April 22, 2024.

Billings stabbed her 15 times in a ferocious attack that lasted less than a minute, after repeatedly threatening to kill her in the weeks and months before.

Police had taken out a provisional apprehended violence order against Billings.

He had been charged with several counts of raping Ticehurst and a string of domestic violence offences on April 5, 2024, but was freed on bail by a local court registrar the next day.

Violent and possessive during their on-and-off relationship, Billings became enraged after being charged and was angry to be branded a rapist, according to an agreed statement of facts.

In a folder of scrawled notes discovered by police after the murder, Billings wrote a declaration in green text: "Innocent!!!"

Another note said: "Make me out to be a monster, treat me like an animal, then OK, I'm going to play the f---ing part."

When police arrested an agitated Billings at a friend's house hours after the murder, he admitted killing Ticehurst.

"I'd just been arrested over word-of-mouth and I think that's when I just snapped," he told an officer.

"I'm going to get treated like a monster ... I'll play the monster in the story then."

Those sexual assault charges were withdrawn and dismissed when Billings pleaded guilty to murder at Forbes Local Court on November 14.

The local court case took 18 months to proceed, with lengthy legal negotiations, a mental health assessment and repeated adjournments.

Despite those delays Billings may still be eligible for a sentence discount of up to 25 per cent, as a guilty plea in the local court is considered an early plea under NSW law.

However, the sentencing judge may opt not apply a discount if Billings' culpability is found to be extreme.

When the case was adjourned for the final time before the pleas, Ticehurst's father Tony Ticehurst said the legal delays had caused their family deep distress.

"It seems to me that in life, the system let Molly down and in death continues the same route," he told reporters in Forbes.

"Instead of getting closure, all we get is anxiety, sadness and heartache."

Billings has also admitted property damage and animal cruelty offences, along with a charge of breaching the apprehended violence order.

Readers seeking support can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or beyond blue on 1300 22 4636.

Support is available from the National Sexual Assault, Domestic and Family Violence Counselling Service at 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732).

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