Molly Ticehurst’s heartbreaking text revealed after killer finally confesses

“If I end up dead, he 100 per cent did it,” Molly Ticehurst texted her friend six weeks before her ex-boyfriend, Daniel Billings, broke into her home and murdered her – exactly as he had vowed to do.

After a year of delays tormented Ticehurst’s grieving family, Billings finally confessed to the senseless killing, which galvanised the nation against domestic violence and changed the state’s bail laws.

Ticehurst, a 28-year-old childcare worker in the Central West NSW town of Forbes, was killed in April last year by Billings after he was released from custody despite previous alleged attacks.

Billings on Friday fronted Forbes Local Court with short dreadlocked hair, speaking only when the magistrate asked him to confirm his name.

“Yes, your honour,” Billings replied.

The court then heard that pleas were officially being entered for the most serious charges against him, including murder.

“That is to the charge of murder, Mr Billings enters a plea of guilty,” his lawyer, Diane Elston, told the court.

Further guilty pleas were entered to contravene an AVO and a charge of animal cruelty.

A raft of other charges against Billings were withdrawn and dismissed.

A fact sheet, released by the court to media, said Ticehurst had gone to police in April 2024 saying Billings had raped her, smashed her car window and killed her dachshund puppy.

She told officers he had also repeatedly laid out his plans to kill her, saying he would climb through her bedroom window as she slept.

“I will come in the middle of the night ... I will get to you if that is the last thing I do,” Ticehurst told police of Billings’ threat.

“The police won’t stop me. I will get to you quicker than they will.”

Billings was arrested and faced the Dubbo Local Court on April 6, 2024, and requested bail.

But it was a Saturday, which means, due to a long-standing practice in country courts, no magistrate was available to hear the case.

‘The police won’t stop me. I will get to you quicker than they will.’

Daniel Billings

Instead, it fell to a court registrar who freed Billings on bail with a $5000 surety despite the serious charges.

A fortnight later, just before midnight, Billings followed through on his threats to Ticehurst.

It took exactly 59 seconds for him to break into Ticehurst’s home, stab her 15 times with a hunting knife and then return to his car, the fact sheet says.

Billings always denied raping Ticehurst, the court document said, and left several handwritten notes to friends and family on the day of the murder, including one saying, “Innocent!!!”

He also recorded videos in the lead-up to the murder and in the aftermath, the court document said.

“I’ve just murdered my ex-girlfriend,” he said in one video.

“[I] cannot believe I just did that.”

He later told police he killed Ticehurst’s puppy with a hammer soon after she broke up with him in June 2023.

Billings will be arraigned in the NSW Supreme Court in December ahead of his sentencing.

Ticehurst’s mother sat in court watching the plea with her hand over her mouth.

About 50 Forbes locals gathered in the park outside the courthouse to support the Ticehurst family, some wearing T-shirts saying, “She matters”.

The crowd burst into applause when the Ticehurst family emerged from the court.

Billings had dragged out his case for more than a year, putting the Ticehurst family through agonising delays and adjournments.

Outside court last week, after yet another adjournment from Billings’ end, Molly’s father, Tony Ticehurst, said the justice system continued to fail his daughter.

“It seems to me that in life the system let Molly down and in death it continues the same route,” he told media.

“Instead of getting closure, all we get is anxiety, sadness and heartache.”

On Friday, an emotional Tony Ticehurst thanked the people of Forbes, saying he would break down trying to describe how he remembers his daughter.

“Every week I’m thankful for the support from the people of Forbes,” he said.

“But today is a special day and I really appreciate the support from the people of Forbes and surrounds, and all my friends.”

Premier Chris Minns conceded Ticehurst was failed by the state’s justice system, admitting his government had “serious questions” to answer in the weeks after her murder.

“This was a terrible, terrible death. Can I just say in relation to the system, it has clearly let down Molly ... the status quo isn’t working. We need to be looking at change to keep people safe, particularly as they’re awaiting justice,” he said.

Ticehurst’s funeral, at Forbes Rugby Club in May 2024, seemed to stop the nation as homes across the country town switched on their porch lights in her honour.

“Dear Mum, I love you,” a four-year-old boy’s message was read to the gathered crowd.

“I miss our holidays together and our tickle fights. I miss you a lot, and I will love you every day and night. You are the best mum in the world.”

Minns was seated in the 1000-strong audience, head bowed, along with then-NSW police commissioner Karen Webb and Police Minister Yasmin Catley.

“Every parent would like to see their child change the world, but not at this cost,” Tony Ticehurst said through tears.

In June last year, the NSW government passed “Molly’s law” to tighten bail on people accused of the most serious forms of domestic violence.

Molly’s law requires people accused of serious domestic violence to show why they should not be detained – effectively reversing the presumption of bail.

Those who are bailed must wear electronic monitoring devices, allowing NSW Corrective Services to track their movements in real-time.

The laws also stripped registrars of the power to grant bail.

Courts must also consider “red flag” behaviour when considering bail, such as sexual abuse, coercive control, stalking and injury to an animal.

With AAP

If you or anyone you know needs support, the National Sexual Assault, Domestic and Family Violence Counselling Service on 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732).