By Sally Rawsthorne and Perry Duffin
Molly Ticehurst’s alleged killer, Daniel Billings, has been slapped with a raft of serious new charges, including aggravated sexual assault.
The alleged murder of the childcare worker in the state’s central west by her former boyfriend, who was out on bail after being charged with sexually assaulting her, led to a nationwide discussion about violence against women and a significant bail law reform.
Molly Ticehurst (left) and her accused killer, Daniel Billings.Credit: Sharni Tolhurst Photography, Facebook
On Thursday, Billings briefly appeared in Parkes Local Court, where police laid four new charges on the mine worker, including aggravated sexual assault, threatening to inflict wounding, two counts of destroying or damaging property and sexual intercourse without consent.
All four charges are domestic violence-related.
The 29-year-old did not appear on-screen from Goulburn’s High Risk Management Correctional Centre, better known as Supermax, where he was moved earlier this year.
Ticehurst first reported Billings’ alleged violence to police in April in the aftermath of an alleged sexual assault.
Billings was granted bail by a Local Court registrar with a $5000 surety and a ban on entering her hometown of Forbes after being charged with four counts of stalking, three of rape, and one of aggravated cruelty towards an animal.
A bouquet with the message “Dear Mum, I love you,” among other flowers paying tribute to Molly Ticehurst.Credit: Kate Geraghty
Two weeks later, Ticehurst’s slain body was found at her Young Street home.
The April incident was not the first instance of alleged violence. In January, Billings allegedly destroyed a pedestal fan belonging to Ticehurst. Police will also allege that he smashed a car window and sexually assaulted her in a car.
Billings will return to court in March next year.
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