Privileged? Creep? Who was Paul Thijssen and what drove him to kill Lilie James?

A week on, the murder of Lilie James’ by Paul Thijssen has left a trail of grief and shock, and the question remains: What motivated a privileged young man to kill her?

It’s been one week since a young, beautiful sports coach was brutally murdered by her ex-boyfriend – and, in that time, the mystery surrounding her killer’s motive has only deepened.

Water polo coach Lilie James had recently ended a five-week relationship with 24-year-old sports assistant Paul Thijssen when he bashed her to death inside a bathroom at St Andrew’s Cathedral School on October 25.

He bludgeoned her with a hammer, before fleeing the scene and jumping to his own death from a clifftop in Vaucluse.

The CBD school they both worked at has been rocked by the tragedy.

Classes were suspended for two days, the foyer became a makeshift memorial, and the school gym – the scene of the horror killing – remains closed.

Lilie James, right, had recently ended a five-week relationship with 24-year-old sports assistant Paul Thijssen, left, before he bashed her to death. Pictures: Supplied/News Corp

Twenty-one-year-old Lilie – or Miss James as her adoring students called her – has been remembered for her bright, kind personality.

But questions about what was going on in Paul’s mind in the days before the violent incident have occupied conversations.

Police and morticians transport away the body of Paul Thijssen, found at the base of cliffs at Diamond Bay, Vaucluse, after he killed Lili James. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Max Mason-Hubers

He was a well-known member of the St Andrew’s community, he had gone to school there for his final years, was a respected sports leader, and returned to work there as a sports assistant when he graduated.

Paul had grown up in the Netherlands before he relocated to Sydney for Years 11 and 12. He returned to his home for a little while after school ended but returned to work in Sydney, living with friends in a quiet Kensington share house up until last week.

Social media painted the picture of a popular and privileged young man who was close to his parents.

But, following the murder, he has instead been labelled a “creep” and a “flirt” who had made some female students feel uncomfortable.

Paul Thijssen at a Sydney cafe.

Rumours have also circulated about alleged inappropriate behaviour towards students but St Andrew’s Cathedral School and St Vincent’s College – where he coached girls hockey – have denied any knowledge of complaints regarding Paul.

“The school has not been made aware of any complaints,” a St Vincent’s spokesperson said.

“I suggest you speak with the police, as the school will not be making any further comment”.

Those close to him are shocked by the level of violence. They say they never once suspecting he was capable of such a thing.

As Lilie’s friends deal with her death, questions have been raised about the five-weeks she and Paul spent together.

Lilie’s mother Peta and her father Jamie didn’t know about Paul, neither did her brother. And just how close they were over the five weeks they spent together is unknown.

One of Lilie’s friends said she “did not like Paul” and that he was “controlling” over Lilie. But exactly when and why Lilie ended their brief relationship may never be known.

Shocking new details revealed the sickening attack was planned and premeditated.

Paul had borrowed a car the day of the murder, bought a hammer at a hardware store that morning and took it to the school.

BODY IN A BATHROOM

He chased his ex-girlfriend into a bathroom with the weapon and killed her after she returned sport equipment to the college following a session with students.

While the reason he committed such an atrocity remains at the centre of a police investigation, the steps he took afterwards have been pieced together.

Before leaving Lilie’s lifeless body, he texted Lilie’s father from her phone, telling him to pick her up.

The text meant Mr James was at the school when his daughter’s body was discovered.

Paul then drove to Vaucluse. He casually dumped the weapon and made a triple-0 call to police to notify them of the grim scene in the school bathroom.

“Informant says there is a body in a bathroom on the right-hand side in reception area,” the triple-0 call dispatcher read out over emergency radio.

“Through reception and to the left. Informant says he was there a couple of hours ago. Female body.”

Then Paul jumped to his death from a cliff at Diamond Bay, in Vaucluse.

It took police 36 hours to find his body, after tracing the emergency call to the notorious clifftops.

The Kensington home where Paul Thijssen lived. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

FLATMATES FLEE

His bare room at the Kensington flat was raided by detectives the same day.

His traumatised flatmates fled the home, unable to imagine how or why their friend had committed such unspeakable acts.

It is understood they haven’t yet returned to their rental – unsure of they ever will.

Paul’s parents, Esther and Stef, were in the Netherlands when news of Lilie’s murder and their son’s suicide were revealed.

It is understood they flew to Australia late this week – and are staying at a Sydney hotel, under police guard for their protection.

What they will do with his body remains unknown.

Lilie’s funeral has not yet been planned – but memorials among friends and students at St Andrew’s have already been held – with the sports teams she coached wearing black armbands in her honour on Saturday.