Molly Ticehurst's ex-boyfriend, Daniel Billings, has admitted to her murder and made additional confessions in a guilty plea. The 30-year-old man, currently serving time in the supermax wing at Goulburn jail, entered his plea via audio-video link from behind bars on Friday morning.
Billings' admission comes nearly two years after he was initially charged with multiple counts of rape and domestic violence against Ticehurst. Despite being deemed fit to appear before court 18 months ago, Billings had previously been granted bail by a local registrar just weeks before the murder took place.
Ticehurst's family gathered outside the courthouse in Forbes, where Billings made his plea, including her mother who was visibly shaken and her father Tony, who expressed frustration with the justice system for not providing closure sooner.
Billings' case has reignited calls for tougher laws to combat domestic violence in Australia. The incident sparked a national anti-DV campaign that ultimately led to significant changes to New South Wales law, including restrictions on bail and increased electronic monitoring for accused individuals.
As Billings was taken away after his plea, the court's adjournment is set for arraignment in the NSW Supreme Court.
Billings' admission comes nearly two years after he was initially charged with multiple counts of rape and domestic violence against Ticehurst. Despite being deemed fit to appear before court 18 months ago, Billings had previously been granted bail by a local registrar just weeks before the murder took place.
Ticehurst's family gathered outside the courthouse in Forbes, where Billings made his plea, including her mother who was visibly shaken and her father Tony, who expressed frustration with the justice system for not providing closure sooner.
Billings' case has reignited calls for tougher laws to combat domestic violence in Australia. The incident sparked a national anti-DV campaign that ultimately led to significant changes to New South Wales law, including restrictions on bail and increased electronic monitoring for accused individuals.
As Billings was taken away after his plea, the court's adjournment is set for arraignment in the NSW Supreme Court.
... it's just heartbreaking that Daniel made a guilty plea and not sooner! I mean, can you believe he got bail weeks before it all went down? It's a clear case of him dodging justice, and it's not right. 
Anyway, I think the fact that this has reignited calls for tougher laws against domestic violence is actually a good thing 
. We need to make sure everyone who commits such atrocities faces real consequences, and that we're supporting victims and their families every step of the way 
.
. And what really gets me is that he got bail just weeks before it all went down... I mean, I know the system can be messed up, but come on! It's like they were trying to let him slip through the cracks. Anyway, I'm glad his confession is finally in, and I hope her family finds some closure now 
. And yeah, this case has shown us just how important it is to have stricter laws when it comes to domestic violence... we can't keep letting people like that roam free 
.
He probably manipulated the system like they all do. And now his family gets to live with the guilt and whatnot. Ticehurst's family must be going through hell, poor thing. Can't believe he got bail weeks before the murder. What a joke 
. I guess justice is just a word now, we'll never get closure, just more empty promises from politicians. This whole thing reeks of corruption. At least they're making changes to the law, but it's about bloody time 
.
And what about Ticehurst's family? They must be living with so much pain and anger right now... my heart just goes out to them 
. The whole thing just feels like a mess, but at least now Billings is taking responsibility for his actions, which I guess is a start 
.
A guy who had bail released days before a woman went missing and now he admits to killing her. That's wild. I mean, I'm glad justice is being served but it's also super frustrating that the system didn't catch him sooner. The family of the victim was really emotional too - you can tell how much they're still hurting. It's like, we knew something was off when he got bail and now we're seeing the consequences.
. I'm kinda glad Billings owned up to what he did, though - it's not easy to admit to being responsible for someone else's suffering 
. and omg, the fact that this case made a difference in Australia's laws regarding DV is EVERYTHING 
.
it just goes to show how broken our system is, my heart goes out to Mollys family still trying to process everything that happened. I mean cant we learn from this? 2 yrs ago he was charged with multiple counts of rape & DV and they let him walk free, now hes pleading guilty and still gets a supermax sentence... just doesnt feel right 
but it took two years to finally hear it! It's a sobering reminder that justice can be slow 
and imperfect, but it's a step closer to healing for Molly Ticehurst's family 
I'm still trying to process how this guy was given bail just weeks before Molly was murdered 
. I think these new laws are a good step forward in keeping people like him behind bars where they belong 
. I mean, he's finally owned up to it, but do we really need to hear all the gory details? And honestly, can we blame the system for not being able to get a conviction sooner? It's like, one wrong bail grant and suddenly everyone's outta here