Disturbing text sent by Paul Thijssen to father of Lillie James the night of her death

The suspected murderer of Lilie James reportedly sent her father a text the night of the young water polo coach’s killing.

The man suspected of murdering Lilie James, a 21-year-old staff member at a prestigious Sydney school, sent a disturbing text to her father after she had been killed, according to reports.

Lilie James, a water polo coach at St Andrew’s Cathedral School in Sydney’s CBD, was found with “serious head injuries” in the gym bathroom by police just after midnight last Wednesday.

She was reportedly beaten to death with a hammer.

Police launched a full-scale hunt for her colleague, 24-year-old sports coach Paul Thijssen, who she recently broke up with after dating for five weeks, and who was seen on CCTV leaving the gym also on Wednesday.

Lilie James, 21, was a water polo coach who was killed at St Andrew’s Cathedral School. Picture: Facebook

A body was recovered on Friday afternoon from cliffs at Vaucluse in Sydney’s east. Here, they found an abandoned backpack with some of Mr Thijssen’s belongings. Police are investigating if the body is that of Mr Thijssen.

On Monday, 7News reported that Ms James’ father received a text from Mr Thijssen on Wednesday.

It’s said that he used the victim’s phone to SMS her father asking for him to pick up his daughter.

Ms James’ father, Jamie, said the family was “devastated and heartbroken by the loss of our beautiful Lilie James”, in a statement read out to NCA NewsWire.

The body of Paul Thijssen is suspected to have been found at the bottom of a Sydney cliff.

“She was vibrant, outgoing and very much loved by her friends and family,” he said, stopping multiple times to gather himself.

“We are tremendously grateful for the support of the community at this difficult time.”

Students returned to lesson at St Andrew’s on Monday.

On Friday, the school’s principal Dr Julie McGonigle sent a letter to parents talking of the “horrors of evil”.

She wrote that the tragedy would not “define” the school community.

“We are deeply concerned for the families directly involved in this incident and I am personally committed to aligning our communications with what is respectful to them and in lock step with the NSW Police,” Dr McGonigle wrote.

“I will not move at a pace that ignores those priorities.

“Thank you sincerely for the love and support you are generously giving at this time – as I will share with staff today – the horrors of evil, do not and will not define our community, that is my oath.

“Thank you for partnering with me in that commitment.”

A view of the flowers left in honour of Lilie James outside the St Andrews School in Sydney after she was murdered last week by her former partner. Photo by: NCA NewsWire /Gaye Gerard

According to an report byThe Daily Telegraph, Ms James and Mr Thijssen had only broken up days ago after dating for five weeks.

The publication states the pair are believed to have met up inside the school building on Wednesday night where a fight ensued.

CCTV obtained by police reportedly shows Mr Thijssen following Ms James into the gym bathroom, before he is seen leaving the area over an hour later.

Four hours later, Mr Thijssen reportedly rang police to inform them of a body on school grounds which should be investigated.

Officers soon arrived at the school where they were met with a “confronting” scene.

It’s understood Mr Thijssen — who comes from a privileged family — moved to Australia from the Netherlands in 2015 and began studying at St Andrew’s.

He had been a sports captain as a student, graduating in 2017.

Mr Thijssen later secured a job as a cricket and hockey coach after graduating.

– With NCA NewsWire

Originally published as Disturbing text sent by Paul Thijssen to father of Lillie James the night of her death