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| Defence granted adjournment in Molly Ticehurst murder case, 16 months after NSW woman’s death | Defence granted adjournment in Molly Ticehurst murder case, 16 months after NSW woman’s death |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Daniel Billings’ lawyer tells Parkes local court negotiations continuing, with defence and prosecution teams to meet later in August | Daniel Billings’ lawyer tells Parkes local court negotiations continuing, with defence and prosecution teams to meet later in August |
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| Prosecutors have been told to speak to the bereaved family of Molly Ticehurst, as the case against the man accused of her domestic violence murder drags on 16 months after her death. | Prosecutors have been told to speak to the bereaved family of Molly Ticehurst, as the case against the man accused of her domestic violence murder drags on 16 months after her death. |
| Daniel Billings, 30, is charged with murdering Ticehurst at her home in Forbes, central western New South Wales, in the early hours of 22 April 2024. | |
| Billings is yet to enter a plea. | Billings is yet to enter a plea. |
| During a brief mention in Parkes local court on Friday morning, Billings’ Legal Aid solicitor Diane Elston asked for the case to be adjourned, saying negotiations between the lawyers were continuing. | During a brief mention in Parkes local court on Friday morning, Billings’ Legal Aid solicitor Diane Elston asked for the case to be adjourned, saying negotiations between the lawyers were continuing. |
| There would still be “some work to do” after the prosecution and defence teams meet later in August, she said. | There would still be “some work to do” after the prosecution and defence teams meet later in August, she said. |
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| Magistrate Brett Thomas agreed to a seven-week adjournment, finding it was in the interests of “members of the community, the family of the victim, the defendant and the Crown”. | Magistrate Brett Thomas agreed to a seven-week adjournment, finding it was in the interests of “members of the community, the family of the victim, the defendant and the Crown”. |
| But he acknowledged the delay for Ticehurst’s family, who have attended each of Billings’ court dates. | But he acknowledged the delay for Ticehurst’s family, who have attended each of Billings’ court dates. |
| Prosecutors should “be in contact with them today and just explain the situation to them”, Thomas said. | |
| Deputy senior crown prosecutor Lee Carr SC, appearing from Sydney, agreed. “That can be accommodated easily,” he said. | |
| Billings, Ticehurst’s former boyfriend, had been freed on bail by a local court registrar a fortnight before the alleged murder on charges including three counts of sexual intercourse without consent against her. | Billings, Ticehurst’s former boyfriend, had been freed on bail by a local court registrar a fortnight before the alleged murder on charges including three counts of sexual intercourse without consent against her. |
| Billings was also charged with four counts of stalking and intimidating her, destroying her property and aggravated animal cruelty against her 12-week-old dachshund puppy in 2023. | Billings was also charged with four counts of stalking and intimidating her, destroying her property and aggravated animal cruelty against her 12-week-old dachshund puppy in 2023. |
| Four more serious charges, including one count of aggravated sexual assault, were laid in December 2024. | Four more serious charges, including one count of aggravated sexual assault, were laid in December 2024. |
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| Legal documents before the court accused Billings of threatening to cause Ticehurst further physical harm during the alleged aggravated sexual assault. | Legal documents before the court accused Billings of threatening to cause Ticehurst further physical harm during the alleged aggravated sexual assault. |
| He is facing a total of 17 charges, including breaching an AVO that was in place to protect Ticehurst. | He is facing a total of 17 charges, including breaching an AVO that was in place to protect Ticehurst. |
| Following Ticehurst’s death changes were made to NSW laws including stripping registrars of the power to grant bail and “show cause” thresholds for domestic violence-related bail applications. | Following Ticehurst’s death changes were made to NSW laws including stripping registrars of the power to grant bail and “show cause” thresholds for domestic violence-related bail applications. |
| A specific bail division of the local court was also created in July, ensuring bail applications can be dealt with more quickly in virtual courtrooms. | A specific bail division of the local court was also created in July, ensuring bail applications can be dealt with more quickly in virtual courtrooms. |
| Billings’ case returns to court on 3 October. |
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