The parents of Molly Ticehurst, a 28-year-old mother and childcare educator murdered by her ex-partner in April 2024, have seen their 870-day fight for justice end with a 28-year jail sentence for Daniel Billings. Their relentless advocacy has already led to tighter bail laws in New South Wales and greater scrutiny of domestic violence responses, potentially saving other women.
A Father's Grief and a Community's Loss
Tony Ticehurst, a former coal colliery truck driver forced to quit work due to injury, described himself as a devoted father. His youngest daughter, Molly, was killed in a frenzied stabbing attack in her bedroom in Forbes, central western NSW, just before midnight on 21 April 2024. Billings was on bail at the time and enraged because Molly had reported sexual assault allegations to police a fortnight earlier.
Billings pleaded guilty to murder, and the rape charges were dropped. On Friday, he was sentenced to 28 years in jail, with a non-parole period of 20 years, making him 49 when eligible for release. Molly's mother, Kate Shaw, called her daughter her "entire world," and photos of them together show them in peals of laughter.
System Failures and a Family's Determination
After Molly ended her relationship in late 2023, Billings threatened to break into her house and kill her. Her parents encouraged her to go to police and hoped she could use the NSW government's Staying Home Leaving Violence initiative. However, the program failed to respond in time. Tony changed her locks and installed dowel in her window frames, while Kate slept over when Molly felt frightened.
The court case stalled for more than 500 days as Billings' lawyers negotiated with prosecutors. Through two winters and a summer, Tony and Kate attended every court mention. Tony often called local state MP Phil Donato, a former police prosecutor, who took their concerns to the NSW government. "That's the fabric of these country communities. When people are doing it tough, the community rallies together," Donato said after one delay.
Molly's Legacy and Calls for Reform
On 3 November 2025, Tony publicly expressed his frustration after another deferral. "It seems to me that in life, the system let Molly down and in death continues the same route," he said. Nine days later, Billings admitted his crime, and Tony walked out to spontaneous applause from locals, many wearing shirts bearing Molly's face and the words "She matters."
During the sentencing in the NSW supreme court in Orange on 3 September, Billings did not look at Molly's parents. Tony told the court he envisaged Billings' journey to murder his daughter, referencing a video of Billings singing Johnny Cash's The Man Comes Around. "I hope every night Molly's screams keep you awake and the hairs on your arm stand up at the terror," Tony said.
Kate's victim impact statement said, "Molly's life was taken far too soon in a violent, malicious manner for no reason other than selfishness." Their advocacy has led to tighter NSW bail laws and closer monitoring of domestic violence accused. The family has called on Premier Chris Minns to release an investigation into her interactions with the Staying Home Leaving Violence scheme. Pia Birac, deputy chief executive of Domestic Violence NSW, said Molly's legacy will endure: "Her story is a powerful reminder of what's at stake when our systems fail to keep women safe. That's due to the courage of her family."
