A court was warned Daniel Billings’ alleged behaviour was escalating towards his former partner Molly Ticehurst before he was released on bail days before her alleged murder.
Ticehurst, 28, was found dead at her home in Forbes on Monday, despite police telling a bail hearing that Billings’ alleged behaviour was escalating to “the most disturbing conclusion”.
Billings was arrested on April 5 and charged with 10 offences dating back to January, including sexual intercourse without consent, stalking and intimidation.
Police kept him behind bars.
A transcript from his appearance in Dubbo Local Court the next morning reveals the police sergeant argued there was a chance of “endangering” Ticehurst’s safety if bail was granting, telling the registrar that “repeated threats” had been made to family members with “specific threats in relation to coming back, knowing where she lives and coming in the window”.
Police Commissioner Karen Webb defended the sergeant’s submissions to the court, saying “he articulated those very well, they were very strong submissions”.
The sergeant asked the “court to scrutinise carefully any proposed bail conditions” but did not say the words “police oppose bail”.
The registrar granted bail on the conditions that Billings report to police daily, not enter Forbes, and not go near Ticehurst.
When the case came before the court again on April 18, an apprehended violence order was issued.
Four days after the second court appearance, Ticehurst was found dead.
A nation’s devastation has turned to rising anger, with women in Ballarat and Newcastle tonight leading off a weekend of rallies for the 26 mothers, daughters, sisters and friends who have been murdered allegedly at the hands of an intimate partner so far this year.
There have been calls in NSW for a royal commission.
“My immediate response remains reform and review of the bail laws in NSW,” Premier Chris Minns said.
“Laws as they’re currently constituted have let people down, in particular Molly Ticehurst.”
Minns plans to convene a special cabinet meeting next week.
