Lilie James murder: Police can account for the actions of James Thijssen for all but two hours
Almost every moment after Paul Thijssen savagely killed his ex-girlfriend is known, except for a two hour window. Here’s what we know so far.
Police & Courts
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Almost every moment after Paul Thijssen savagely killed his ex-girlfriend is accounted for – but his two lonely hours believed to have been spent on a Vaucluse cliff top remain a mystery.
Police know exactly when he walked into the St Andrew’s Cathedral School bathroom and bludgeoned water-polo coach Lilie James to death, when he left, where he dumped an alleged murder weapon and how he got there – but why he spent hours alone on the dark cliffs of a notorious suicide spot will never be known.
School CCTV footage captures the crucial interactions at 7pm on Wednesday night between Paul Thijssen and Miss James before he followed her into the school’s gym bathroom.
It’s there police believe he beat her with a hammer before fleeing an hour later and driving himself to Vaucluse.
Ms James’s badly beaten body was found just before midnight on Wednesday – her ex boyfriend found another 36 hours later in waters off Vaucluse.
His movements after the attack can be pieced together from CCTV footage from cliff top mansions in the eastern suburbs.
All but two hours from 10pm until he placed the chilling triple 0 call telling police where to find Ms James’ body at midnight can be accounted for.
Investigators were rocked by the confronting crime scene, Ms James’ head injuries described as ghastly.
At the same time as the gruesome discovery police traced the emergency call and rushed to Vaucluse View Point but there was no sign of the caller, only his abandoned silver Lexus.
The pair both worked in the sports department at St Andrew’s Cathedral School and had been dating for just five weeks when Ms James broke things off.
The school confirmed to the Saturday Telegraph on Friday the knew of the relationship after both staff members had made them aware. They said relationships were allowed between staff members providing they followed protocol and notified the school.
Despite the horror in the bathroom, Thijssen’s final hours appeared calm as footage captured him casually walking along a cliff top footpath, appearing to place something in a council rubbish bin.
Security cameras along Chris Bang Crescent in Vaucluse showed Thijssen, arriving in the street at 8.47pm.
Dressed in black, Thijssen can be seen exiting his silver Lexus and walking at a steady pace along the cliff side footpath at 9.03pm.
He heads towards a bin which was later cordoned off and declared part of a crime scene.
Police sources say Thijssen dumped the murder weapon into the bin. His ear pods were also found nearby.
He can be seen returning to his car less than 10 minutes later where he sat until 9.49pm before driving a few hundred metres away at Vaucluse Viewpoint.
The body of Thijssen was found in water below the cliff just before 8am on Friday morning. It was a group of tradesmen working on a clifftop job site that spotted the body floating and called triple-0.
Under a flurry of lights and sirens, police, paramedics and rescue choppers rushed to the scene, but strong winds and rough seas meant rescue crews could not retrieve the body until 12.15pm.
As the body was pulled from the water, students, friends and heartbroken parents congregated at St Andrew’s leaving flowers and tributes for the “beautiful Miss James”.
Thijssen’s parents live in the Netherlands.
On Friday Ms James’ devastated family broke their silence after the horrific death of their “beautiful” daughter.
“We are devastated and heartbroken by the loss of our beautiful Lilie James,” the family said in a statement.
“She was vibrant, outgoing and very much loved by her friends and family.
“We are tremendously grateful for the support of the community at this difficult time.”
A close friend Anthony Aloe told the Saturday Telegraph “Lilie was and is a beautiful young woman that touched the lives of many”.
“Lilie is someone with many close friends around her and could never be caught alone or without a smile,” Mr Aloe said.
“Her giddy, humorous and welcoming attitude was loved by all. She was the type of girl that was always looking for a way to get everyone together no matter what and it is these memories of her we will cherish forever.
“Heaven truly gained another angel. We will love and miss you Lilie until we meet again.”
UTS Balmain Water Polo Club and the broader water polo community also expressed their sadness over Ms James’ death.
“Lilie joined as a member of Balmain this season,” they said in a statement on Instagram.
In only her first few games with her Balmain teammates, Lilie’s friendliness made a mark impressing those around her with her gentleness and kindness,
“Her loss will be felt across the club”.
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