Update after daycare worker’s alleged murder
Written by admin on November 15, 2024
A man charged with the murder of his ex-partner – in addition to allegedly repeatedly intimidating and sexually assaulting her in the months prior – faces a longer wait in custody until his charges are ready to be certified in court.
Daniel Billings is charged with murdering Molly Ticehurst, a mother of one and early childhood educator, in the Central West NSW town of Forbes earlier this year.
Mr Billings, 29, did not appear before Parkes Local Court on Friday.
The Crown was expected to confirm the number of charges Mr Billings was facing following a similar appearance in August.
Instead, prosecutors said the matter was “not quite ready” for certification and asked for Mr Billings’ charge certification hearing to be set down for December 19.
Legal Aid defence solicitor Diane Elston agreed to the date.
Mr Billings will remain in custody until his next appearance when police are expected to formally confirm the charges he is facing.
At this stage of the proceedings, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions can decide on what charges to proceed to committal on or determine whether charges will be replaced or dropped.
Mr Billings is facing 12 charges, including murder, sexual intercourse without consent, destroying or damaging property, stalking or intimidating, animal cruelty and contravening an apprehended domestic violence order.
Police allege Mr Billings murdered Ms Ticehurst at her Forbes property in the early hours of April 22, 2024.
Emergency services found Ms Ticehurst’s body in the Young St home after concerns were raised for her welfare
It is further alleged Mr Billings raped her several times and intimidated her in the months before she was killed.
Ms Ticehurst’s alleged murder sparked outrage amid a renewed focus on domestic violence-related deaths.
It also sparked calls for authorities to reform bail laws in NSW.
Earlier in the year, Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Commissioner Micaela Cronin said monitoring tools might have prevented Ms Ticehurst’s death.
“If we were watching that the way we watch people who are labelled as terrorists in our communities, then she might still be alive today,” she explained.
