Molly Ticehurst's alleged killer Daniel Billings mentally assessed
The man accused of the domestic violence murder of Molly Ticehurst has been mentally assessed and will face court again later in the year.
Daniel Billings is charged with the murder of Ms Ticehurst, whose body was found in her home at Forbes, in central-western NSW, in the early hours of April 22.
The 30-year-old was freed on bail a fortnight before the alleged murder on charges related to Ms Ticehurst, including three counts of sexual intercourse without consent and four counts of stalking and intimidating her.
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He was also charged with destroying property at her house 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.
Legal documents before the court accused Billings of threatening to cause Ms Ticehurst further physical harm during the alleged assault.
Billings is facing a total of 17 charges.
Legal Aid solicitor Diane Elston on Friday told Parkes Local Court Billings had undergone a mental assessment and the case could progress.
“We’re ready to commence the formal negotiation period,” Ms Elston said.
Magistrate Michael Maher adjourned the case to the same court on May 16.
He also removed Ms Ticehurst’s name from an interim domestic violence order, which was put in place with the initial charges.
“I can’t make an interim order for someone that is no longer on this earth, so to speak,” Mr Maher said.
The order now only relates to a young person.
Several members of Ms Ticehurst’s family, including her parents, were in court to watch the brief proceedings.
Billings did not appear via audio-video link to hear the matter.
During a brief hearing in June 2024, Billings appeared from the High Risk Management Correctional Centre at Goulburn jail.
The centre in southern NSW is designed to house high-risk male inmates or those with a high public profile.
Ms Ticehurst’s death intensified a growing movement against gendered violence and sparked NSW government changes to bail laws.
1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)
Lifeline 13 11 14
National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028
