By Jordan Baker and Olivia Ireland
The final hours of alleged killer Paul Thijssen’s life were spent sitting in a car on a Vaucluse street, CCTV footage shows. His last contact with the world was a call to triple zero, alerting them to a body at St Andrew’s Cathedral School, before he disappears.
The footage, obtained by Nine News, shows Thijssen’s car arriving at a street next to a Vaucluse reserve just before 9pm on Wednesday. He gets out of the car, walks down the footpath, and puts something in a bin – it is believed to be the weapon used in the murder of his former girlfriend, Lilie James.
He returns to the car, drives around the corner, and sits there. He calls triple zero just before midnight, telling police about the body.
They used the call to trace his car to Vaucluse, but when they arrived, he had left, sparking a manhunt. The body of Thijssen – a fellow coach James dated briefly – was recovered off sea cliffs in Sydney’s east on Friday.
The security vision emerged as the principal of St Andrew’s, Julie McGonigle, vowed the horrors of evil would not define the school community and paid tribute to the adored sports assistant.
James, 21, was formally identified on Friday as the woman found dead with serious head wounds in a bathroom next to the school’s gymnasium.
CCTV footage shows alleged killer Paul Thijssen on Wednesday night.Credit: Nine News
“We are devastated and heartbroken by the loss of our beautiful Lilie James,” her family said in a statement. “She was vibrant, outgoing, and very much loved by her family and friends.” They supplied a photo of James, beaming proudly at her year 12 graduation.
James, a student at the University of Technology Sydney and a part-time dance and water polo coach, had been working with students at St Andrew’s – a high-rise Anglican school next to Sydney’s Town Hall – on Wednesday afternoon.
Lilie James’ family says she was “vibrant, outgoing and very much loved”.
CCTV footage showed James entering the bathrooms next to the gym with Thijssen about 7pm on Wednesday, police sources confirmed on the condition of anonymity.
Just over an hour later, he left the bathroom alone. The sources said she is likely to have been killed about 7pm.
Sports coach Paul Thijssen, who is suspected of killing Lilie James.Credit: Flavio Brancaleone; Supplied
The school was closed for two days. Police sources not authorised to speak publicly about the investigation have suggested James’ wounds were inflicted by a hammer.
Thijssen’s triple zero call alerted police to his location. The manhunt for Thijssen along the South Head cliffs ended on Friday at Vaucluse, when a body was retrieved from the water just after noon. It has not been formally identified.
On Friday morning, Thijssen’s parents were still in the Netherlands. He was their only child.
A jet-ski patrols Diamond Bay near where the body was found on Friday.Credit: Janie Barrett
McGonigle described James as much-loved. “Lilie’s engagement across the student body was wide-ranging and, as you will know from your children, she was adored by all,” McGonigle said in a letter to parents.
She quoted James’ heartbroken colleagues, who described her as a vibrant, smart, compassionate woman whose bright, bubbly personality would be deeply missed.
“I can personally attest to what’s been said,” McGonigle said. “In all of my dealings with Lilie, she was full of vitality, energy, enthusiasm and a natural fit in our community.”
McGonigle also told parents that “the horrors of evil do not and will not define our community, that is my oath”.
NSW Police have briefed St Andrew’s staff on the incident and investigation. “Based on his extensive investigation, he assured us that this was a completely unforeseeable event,” McGonigle said.
Thijssen attended St Andrew’s from year 10 and graduated in 2017. He was sports captain and a prefect. After tertiary study in the Netherlands, he returned to his Sydney alma mater as a hockey coach while he undertook a master of education.
People who knew him at school said there was “nothing whatsoever to indicate any future trouble. We are shocked and appalled.”
So far this year, at least 40 Australian women have been killed by their partners.
Lifeline: 13 11 14
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