Molly Ticehurst murder sentencing delayed over mental health evidence
Quick Look
- Sentencing for Daniel Billings, who murdered childcare worker Molly Ticehurst, has been delayed.
- His defense submitted evidence of severe depression at the time of the killing, potentially impacting the murder charge.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Daniel Billings pleaded guilty to murdering Molly Ticehurst in April 2024. He was on bail for several domestic violence charges against her at the time. The sentencing was scheduled for early June.
The sentencing of the man who murdered childcare worker Molly Ticehurst has been delayed after his lawyers submitted evidence he had a "severe form of depression" when he killed her.
Daniel Billings pleaded guilty in November to murdering Ms Ticehurst in April 2024 at her home in the NSW Central West town of Forbes.
Billings was on bail for several domestic violence charges against the 28-year-old mother, including rape, stalking and intimidation, when he murdered her.
He was listed to be sentenced in Orange at the beginning of June but those dates have now been cleared.
On Friday Billings's defence team told the NSW Supreme Court in Sydney that a forensic psychiatrist found he was affected by a depressive illness at the time of the murder.
Court documents seen by the ABC included an excerpt from the report that said Billings had a "severe form of depression".
"Mr Billings's depressive illness resulted in a mental impairment at the time of the offence," the report said.
"His abnormal state of mind is likely to have affected his perception of the events and also his capacity to exercise proper control over his actions."
The court heard if that if the impairment was found to be "substantial" it could allow Billings to face a manslaughter charge instead.
Defence barrister Sarah Talbert told the court her client wanted to continue with the offence of murder and asked that the medical evidence be taken into account in sentencing.
Billings observed the proceedings quietly through an online video link from the Goulburn Supermax prison.
Crown prosecutor Lee Carr SC filed a motion to delay the sentence dates so his team could find their own expert to assess the 31-year-old.
The court heard Billings did not agree to see another psychiatrist, meaning the Crown's expert would need to form an opinion based on more than 1,000 pages of medical information.
The court documents said that two psychiatrists were available to complete reports by the end of August, while another could finish an assessment by the end of November.
Justice Natalie Adams vacated the original sentence dates next month and relisted them for early September.
The matter will be heard again in August for mention.
The charges of property damage, animal cruelty offences and breaching an apprehended violence order will be taken into consideration when Billings is sentenced.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
The court will seek an independent psychiatric evaluation of Daniel Billings.
Very likely · Within weeks
Sentencing will be further delayed beyond September.
Likely · Within months
The charge may be reviewed for potential reduction to manslaughter based on mental impairment.
Possible · Within months
Open Questions
- Will the mental health evidence lead to a manslaughter charge or influence sentencing?
- What will be the findings of the Crown's expert psychiatrist?
- When will the final sentencing date be set?
- What were the specific domestic violence charges Billings was on bail for?