Ticehurst, 28, was allegedly murdered in her Forbes home last week by former partner Daniel Billings, who was on bail for a raft of serious offences including three counts of sexual intercourse without consent and four counts of stalking or intimidating Ticehurst.
Molly Ticehurst (left) and her accused killer, Daniel Billings. Sharni Tolhurst Photography, Facebook
He was also charged with aggravated animal cruelty in relation to Ticehurst’s puppy.
Billings, 29, allegedly told Ticehurst at the end of last year that he killed the 12-week-old dachshund puppy on a road near a truck stop, according to sources with direct knowledge of the matter but not authorised to speak publicly.
Sources with knowledge of the case against Billings, who were not authorised to comment publicly, say the puppy was killed with a blunt instrument.
According to a court transcript, Billings maintained his innocence when he was granted bail for the sexual assault, stalking and animal cruelty charges.
Molly Ticehurst’s alleged murderer, Daniel Billings, was released on bail just weeks ago after being accused of sexually assaulting her. Supplied
“He denies the allegations which are before the court today,” his solicitor Bridget Byrnes told the registrar presiding over Dubbo Local Court on April 6.
Sources say that Billings planned to defend the allegation of animal cruelty by saying that he had euthanised the puppy because it was suffering horrific injuries late at night and there was no vet available.
“The alleged murder of Molly Ticehurst following the aggravated animal cruelty allegedly perpetrated against her puppy highlights why courts, governments and services must recognise that animal abuse is a high-risk factor for homicide,” said Monique Dam, the CEO of Lucy’s Project, the peak body for improving access to domestic violence services for people with animals.
“Men who perpetrate domestic and family violence will often harm and kill animals as part of a pattern of coercive control, to intimidate and inflict emotional and psychological harm on women, LGBTQ+ people and children,” said Dam.
“We need to train animal welfare workers and veterinary professionals to recognise domestic and family violence perpetrated against animals and to respond and refer people on for support.”
The Central West town will hold Ticehurst’s funeral on Thursday. Several businesses have telegraphed their intention to close for the afternoon as the town farewells the childcare worker and mother who had called it home for close to 10 years.
The business charged with Molly’s funeral and private cremation warned last week of a fake livestream of the funeral circulating on Facebook.
“Please no one accept any friends request from us to view a livestream. We don’t invite you to a page to watch a livestream we don’t even advertise if we are going to livestream,” said Michael Hanley’s Funerals and cremations in a Facebook post.
“We don’t know a way to stop this from happening and are so sorry that scammers are doing this.”
