Timeline of terror: Daniel Billings charged with the murder of ex-girlfriend Molly Ticehurst at Forbes
The extent of the prolonged violence allegedly committed by Daniel Billings against his ex-girlfriend Molly Ticehurst before he was granted bail 15 days before allegedly murdering her has been revealed.
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Molly Ticehurst was raped three times, harassed four times, had car windows and property broken, and her puppy was targeted, during a three-month reign of domestic terror, police allege in court documents.
The reign of terror only ended when her ex-boyfriend returned to kill her 15 days after being freed on bail, police allege.
As political leaders began asking for “urgent briefings” and reviews on how wannabe boxer Daniel Billings was granted bail by a court registrar 15 days before the death, the extent of the violence allegedly levelled against the 28-year-old single mum from Forbes was laid out in a country courtroom.
Court documents from Orange Local Court, where Billings first faced the murder charge on Tuesday, state Molly allegedly endured at least four violent episodes with her 29-year-old ex-partner before he is accused of returning to her Forbes home sometime just after midnight on Monday and killing her.
Her “brutal” death has prompted a huge outpouring of grief and anger at how Billings, who had been charged with multiple sexual and domestic violence offences on April 5, was granted bail the following day and only for him to return to a town he was barred from to allegedly murder Molly in her own home.
NSW Premier Chris Minns will announce a review on Wednesday, Attorney-General Michael Daley has requested a transcript of the bail hearing and Opposition Leader Michael Speakman will call on the government to make any briefings on Billings’ bail bid public.
The political ramifications came as the small central western town of Forbes woke to its second day of horror, after word continued to spread about the alleged terror Molly had faced.
Billings had been charged with three counts of sexual intercourse without consent, four counts of stalking/intimidation, two counts of malicious damage and an animal cruelty charge allegedly relating to Molly’s 12-week-old dachshund puppy.
The charges, which were briefly mentioned during Tuesday’s court proceedings so a magistrate could formally revoke the bail conditions, span three months until two days before Billings was first arrested on April 5.
It includes one count of sexual intercourse without consent allegedly being committed during a nine-hour period on January 3 – weeks after the pair had briefly reunited in December after their 18-month relationship ended in July.
Billings is alleged to have also smashed a pedestal fan and stalked or intimidated Molly at the same time.
Some 11 days later, on January 14, Billings is alleged to have smashed Molly’s car window at Forbes as well as stalking or intimidating her.
Police will allege Billings contacted Molly after smashing the window and offered to pay for the damage.
But they will allege that when the pair met near the Harvey Norman store in Parkes on March 4, Billings drove off with Molly in the car before raping her twice in the back seat.
Billings is also alleged to have stalked and intimidated Molly in the early evening of April 3.
Two days later he was arrested by police and charged with the 10 offences before he faced Dubbo bail court the following morning and was granted conditional release by the registrar despite strong opposition from police.
Court documents said a registrar granted Billings bail on a list of conditions including that he report daily to Parkes police, he not enter Forbes, he not go near or contact Ms Ticehurst, that he not drink or take drugs and that a responsible person agree to cover a $5000 surety.
An interim apprehended domestic violence order was also made, with Billings banned from contacting Ms Ticehurst, going within one kilometre of her home, work and other places.
But within 15 days of those orders being made, police allege he drove into Forbes and murdered Ms Ticehurst sometime between midnight and 1.50am on Monday.
Police have confirmed a concern for welfare check discovered Molly’s body after an alarm was raised following Billings’ attendance at a friend’s property more than 100km away and a resident rang police.
Police have also dismissed rumours widely circulating that Molly’s workplace and child care centre went into lockdown last week after an attendance by Billings.
A man – not Billings – was arrested near the child care centre last Thursday but there was no connection to Molly or the child care centre.
Floral tributes continued to gather outside the home turned crime scene at Young St, Forbes, on Tuesday as friends began paying tribute to the popular young mum.
The outpouring of grief came as NSW Premier Chris Minns requested an urgent briefing on the court’s decision to grant Billings bail, telling the media it was “completely legitimate” to question how he was released.
“A family has lost their daughter, and a little boy has lost his mother,” Mr Minns said in a statement.
“Our justice system must protect the community from those who pose an unacceptable risk.
“Details of a review are being finalised and will be announced tomorrow.
The Daily Telegraph can reveal NSW Opposition Leader and former Attorney-General Mark Speakman will call for NSW Government briefings on Daniel Billings’ bail to be made public.
A spokesman for NSW Attorney-General Michael Daley said he had sought urgent advice on the matter and has requested the transcript of the matter.
A friend of Molly Ticehurst’s described the death as a “nightmare”.
“I want to wake up to see your name light up my phone,” Liss Shaw wrote on Facebook.
“I want to see you smile hear you laugh and watch you stuff your face with food.
“I wish I could rewind time and fix this.”
Local mayor Rhyllis Miller told The Daily Telegraph her community was “shocked by the tragedy”.
“Whatever we are doing to tackle the domestic violence issue in the bush is not working,” she said. “The community are devastated.”
She described a mother who “loved wholeheartedly and unconditionally”
“You were the life of the party and your son will always be your whole world – god what I would do to bring you back,” she said.
“You will forever be in our hearts your memories will never be forgotten and your always with us no matter what.”
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