Molly Ticehurst's killer intends to appeal murder sentence

Molly Ticehurst's killer intends to appeal his 28-year sentence handed down in the Orange Supreme Court last month, in what has been described as "more trauma" for her family.

Daniel Billings broke into ex-partner Ms Ticehurst's home in Forbes, in the NSW central west, on Sunday, April 21, 2024 just before 11:30pm.

The 31-year-old fatally stabbed the childcare worker and mother-of-one several times with a hunting knife, including to the face and neck. 

The incident took just 59 seconds, with her body discovered the following day.

Billings was later arrested more than an hour away in Fifield, north of Condobolin. He pleaded guilty to the charge of murder.

On Monday evening, his intention to appeal was confirmed.

"Daniel Billings filed a notice of intention to appeal [NIA] against the sentence imposed by Justice Adams in Orange on 11 September," the NSW Supreme Court said in a statement.

"The NIA was lodged on the afternoon of Friday, 9 October."

According to the rules, he has one year to act on his plans by filing a notice to appeal.

'He got off pretty leniently'

The Member for Orange, Phil Donato, said that Ms Ticehurst's death had not only "rocked Forbes and the central west", but had reverberated nationwide.

And while he acknowledged that Billings had a right to appeal, it was "disappointing".

"I thought he got off pretty leniently after pleading guilty," Mr Donato said.

"This is going to just add more time, more stress, more trauma for the family of Molly, for her family and friends in the community, and I know it's his legal right, but he's certainly got a hide."

Mr Donato added the family would have to "relive" sitting through court dates, hours of sentencing submissions and hearings. 

"Billings has always been a pretty calculative, manipulative person, when you look at the conduct of what he did in the lead up to the murder of Molly.

"What he said, what he threatened, and these are proven facts that the judge read out in the sentencing submissions, he's just playing the system really, he's played the system from the very beginning."

In a recent statement, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) said it would not be appealing Billings's sentence of 28 years in prison with a non-parole period of 20 years.

"Having carefully considered the sentence imposed and the circumstances of this case, the ODPP has determined not to institute an appeal against Mr Billing's sentence," the spokesperson said. 

"This decision was made in accordance with the prosecution guidelines." 

The ODPP had 28 days following the sentencing to appeal.

Death sparked legal reforms

Ms Ticehurst's death sparked widespread community anger over the rates of domestic violence against women, particularly in regional areas.

It also turned attention to the state's legal framework after it was revealed that Ms Ticehurst's death happened just two weeks after Billings had faced Dubbo Local Court charged with other violent offences against her, including rape and intimidation.

At the time, he was granted bail for those offences by a court registrar, who is not a judge or magistrate, before allegedly returning to Forbes and killing Ms Ticehurst 15 days later.

As a response the Minns government strengthened bail laws, including the wearing of electronic monitoring devices and placing the onus on those  accused of domestic violence offences to demonstrate why they should be given bail before it is granted.