A gutless thug who murdered Molly Ticehurst in a case of domestic violence which shocked the state has finally pleaded guilty, ending months of delays which have caused further heartache for his ex-partner’s family.
Daniel Billings murdered Ms Ticehurst inside her home in Forbes in NSW’s central west in April last year.
On Friday, Billings was beamed into Forbes Local Court via videolink from Goulburn jail.
His solicitor Diane Elston entered a guilty plea on his behalf, the words her family had been desperate to hear for so long.
Ever since his cowardly attack on the mother-of-one and devoted childcare worker over 18 months ago, his case has been afflicted by continual delays.
On numerous occasions the court heard that he was close to a plea, only for the matter to be adjourned.
Then, on Friday, with Ms Ticehurst’s family and loved ones packing the court, Billings entered guilty pleas to murder and several other charges.
At the time of Ms Ticehurst’s killing, Mr Billings was on bail over charges relating to his former partner including stalk/intimidation, sexual intercourse without consent and animal cruelty.
He was released on bail by a registrar at Dubbo Local Court two weeks before he murdered her.
For months the matter has moved slowly through the courts and been continually delayed.
Earlier this month, the matter was once again adjourned after his solicitor Diane Elston told the court she could not speak to her client because of a strike by corrective services staff.
It led Ms Ticehurst’s father, Tony Ticehurst, to express his frustrations.
“I wish to express my disappointment – yet another delay in Molly’s case,” Mr Ticehurst said outside court on November 3.
“It seems to me that in life the system let Molly down and in death it continues the same route.
“Instead of getting closure all we get is anxiety, sadness and heartache.”
Her killing at the hands of her ex-partner led to an outpouring of community grief and anger.
It led to an overhaul of the state’s bail laws under which registrars can no longer make bail decisions and alleged domestic violence offenders must be subject to electronic ankle monitors while on bail.
Under the reforms, a person charged with serious domestic violence offences must show cause why they should be granted bail, reversing the presumption of bail.
More to come.
