Full Breakdown
Daniel Billings to Appeal 28-Year Sentence for Murder of Molly Ticehurst
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Murder and Sentencing
In April 2024, Daniel Billings broke into the Forbes home of childcare worker Molly Ticehurst just before midnight on April 22 and stabbed her more than a dozen times, killing her instantly. He also killed her 12-week-old dachshund with a hammer. After pleading guilty to murder in November 2025, Billings was sentenced in September 2026 by Justice Natalie Adams of the Supreme Court at Orange to 28 years’ imprisonment, including a non-parole period of 20 years. The sentence reflected a 20 percent discount applied to an original 35-year term.
Appeal Process and Legal Context
Billings lodged a notice of intention to appeal on October 9, a filing confirmed by the Supreme Court on October 12, 2026. The appeal seeks to overturn the sentence, which the Crown argued should not have received any discount under the early-plea provisions introduced in 2018.
Official Statements & Responses
Justice Natalie Adams described the murder as “absolutely terrifying” for Ticehurst, noting the victim’s fear of her perpetrator being realized. The Crown emphasized that the case should set a precedent for not granting discounts in coercive-control domestic-violence murders.
Criticism & Opposition
Independent MP Phil Donato (Orange) condemned the sentence as inadequate, urging the Office of The Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) to appeal and drafting legislation to impose mandatory life sentences for domestic-violence murders committed while an AVO or bail conditions are in place. He warned that an appeal could prolong trauma for the victim’s family. NSW Attorney-General Michael Daley’s office noted that the statutory 25-year non-parole period for intimate-partner homicides does not apply retroactively to Billings’s case.
Verbatim Quotes
- “How do I feel for what I done? I feel horrible, ashamed I’ve ruined so many lives,” — Daniel Billings
- “It must have been absolutely terrifying for Ticehurst to die knowing her worst fears were realised,” — Justice Natalie Adams
- “I just hope his appeal is unsuccessful,” — Orange Phil Donato
- “Yes, he's allowed to appeal but to me, Molly's dad, it just means it just drags it on for another 12 months,” — Mr Ticehurst
- “There's always the chance when you pursue an appeal that a higher court imposes a longer penalty, and I certainly hope that happens.” — Phil Donato