Prosecutors have been told to speak to the bereaved family of Molly Ticehurst, as the case against the man accused of her domestic violence murder drags on 16 months after her death.
Daniel Billings, 30, is charged with murdering Ticehurst at her home in Forbes, central western NSW, in the early hours of April 22, 2024.
But almost a year-and-a-half on, Billings is yet to enter a plea and he has not appeared in court since June 2024.
During a brief mention in Parkes Local Court this morning, Billings’ Legal Aid solicitor Diane Elston asked for the case to be adjourned, saying negotiations between the lawyers were continuing.
There would still be “some work to do” after the prosecution and defence teams meet later in August, she said.
Magistrate Brett Thomas agreed to a seven-week adjournment, finding it was in the interests of “members of the community, the family of the victim, the defendant and the Crown”.
But he acknowledged the delay for Ticehurst’s family, who have attended each of Billings’ court dates.
Prosecutors should “be in contact with them today and just explain the situation to them,” Thomas said.
Deputy senior crown prosecutor Lee Carr SC, appearing from Sydney, agreed.
“That can be accommodated easily,” he said.
Ticehurst’s death intensified a national movement against domestic and gendered violence.
Billings, Ticehurst’s former boyfriend, had been freed on bail by a local court registrar a fortnight before the alleged murder on charges including three counts of sexual intercourse without consent against her.
Billings was also charged with four counts of stalking and intimidating her, destroying her property and aggravated animal cruelty against her 12-week-old dachshund puppy in 2023.
Four more serious charges, including one count of aggravated sexual assault, were laid in December 2024.
Legal documents before the court accused Billings of threatening to cause Ticehurst further physical harm during the alleged aggravated sexual assault.
He is facing a total of 17 charges, including breaching an AVO that was in place to protect Ticehurst.
The ensuing movement against gendered violence sparked changes to NSW laws, including stripping registrars of the power to grant bail and “show cause” thresholds for domestic violence-related bail applications.
A specific bail division of the local court was also created in July, ensuring bail applications can be dealt with more quickly in virtual courtrooms.
Billings’ case returns to court on October 3.
