Lilie James: Ex-lover Paul Thijssen ‘rehearsed’ water polo coach’s murder

A sport coach who was in Australia on false documents made several “dry runs” before brutally murdering his colleague and ex-lover in a private school’s bathroom, a coroner has heard.

Dutch citizen Paul Thijssen was “calculated” in his preparations before beating Lilie James to death inside St Andrew’s Cathedral School in Sydney’s city centre in October 2023, an inquest was told on Tuesday.

The 21-year-old woman had days earlier ended their two-month relationship.

The inquest revealed Thijssen’s history of stalking Ms James - a fellow sport assistant at St Andrew’s - and an earlier partner, as well as a web of deceit he spun about his time in Australia.

His lies duped friends, housemates, his employer and - with numerous forged documents - Australian visa authorities.

After being dumped by Ms James in mid-October 2023, he set about stalking her and carefully planning her murder, the coroner heard.

Thijssen “rehearsed the attack and made a number of dry runs” hours before striking her with a hammer, counsel assisting Jennifer Single SC said in her opening address.

“The preparation was calculated,” she said.

“It was not a momentary loss of control - it was a premeditated killing.

“The killing itself was overkill.”

The inquest is expected to delve into broader issues such as coercive control and unacceptable behaviour in relationships, in an attempt to prevent similar deaths.

Footage played at the inquest showed Ms James being shoved by her eventual killer during a lengthy argument five days before the murder.

The next night, Thijssen was seen repeatedly checking Ms James’s location on Snapchat as she attended a 21st birthday party with an ex-boyfriend.

He then spent an hour outside the party before picking up her and a friend.

eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant is among several expert witnesses to appear during the three-day inquest.

Thijssen took his own life in Sydney’s eastern suburbs shortly after killing Ms James. His body was recovered two days later.

It appeared the Dutch hockey coach spent some of his final moments looking at a memento from a relationship that ended two years earlier in acrimony, the inquest heard.

That eight-month romance with a younger player, Freya, ended after the woman’s parents became concerned about his habit of checking up on the 18-year-old and becoming annoyed if she did not answer straight away.

He had also taken several steps to know her location via Snapchat, an Apple Watch feature and by waiting outside her place of work.

While he was in the Netherlands in December 2021, she made a move to end the relationship, causing Thijssen to immediately apply for a work-holiday visa and fly back to Sydney.

He turned up unannounced at her church that Sunday.

Told the relationship was over, he punched a tree next to her head, reasoning “I can’t punch the one thing I want to”.

Freya, whose surname can’t be published, had described the relationship as suffocating and controlling, the inquest was told.

There was also evidence that Thijssen lied extensively about being enrolled in a masters of teaching degree, even pretending to go off to study at times.

He had also submitted doctored letters, payslips and references to support working holiday visas obtained in late 2021 and 2023.

Ms James’ parents attended the opening day, although they are not represented by lawyers at the inquest.

The Thijssen family says it has evidence Paul’s life had “become derailed” before the death but that information has not been provided to the coroner.

In a colourful memorial service after her death, Ms James was remembered by her family as “vibrant, outgoing, and very much loved by her family and friends”.

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