Murder sentence being "carefully" considered, NSW Parliament hears

Daniel Billings' sentence is being carefully considered by the department that has the power to appeal it, NSW Parliament has heard. NSW Attorney General Michael Daley MP said he had spoken with the Director of Public Prosecutions about Billings' sentence - 28 years in jail with a non-parole period of 20 years - for the murder of Molly Ticehurst. "The director indicated to me that she and her office have received that judgement of course and are considering it carefully," Mr Daley said, responding to a question from Shadow Minister for Women Felicity Wilson. The call for appeal against the murder sentence handed down to Daniel Billings was raised in the parliament on Thursday morning with a notice of motion from State Member for Orange Philip Donato. Mr Donato described the sentence as "manifestly inadequate" when he asked parliament to call on the NSW Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions to lodge an appeal against it. Molly, beloved Forbes mum and childcare worker, was just 28 when her former partner broke in through her bedroom window and fatally stabbed her on the night of 21 April 2024. Judge Natalie Adams, handing down the sentence in the Supreme Court in Orange on Friday 11 September, described Billings' attack on his former partner as “brutal” and at the high end of the range for murder in her assessment of objective seriousness. Billings' guilty plea in November 2025 made a 25 per cent sentence discount on the murder sentence available, which Justice Adams reduced to 20 per cent. "The murder of Ms Ticehurst was a revenge killing of a woman who had made a complaint of domestic violence against him (Billings)," she said. Justice Adams did take into account Billings' remorse, depressive illness at the time, his risk of reoffending, and prospect of rehabilitation. In setting the non-parole period, Justice Adams reduced the ratio between the sentence and non-parole period from 75 per cent to 71 per cent. The sentence was backdated to April 2024, meaning Billings, now 31 years old, would first be eligible for parole in 2044. “It is clear that Molly’s senseless death has had a significant impact on those who loved her, it is particularly tragic that her son has been left without a mother at such a young age,” Justice Adams said in sentencing. "Nothing I do in sentencing Mr Billings today, nor anything I say in explaining the reasons for that sentence, can bring Molly Ticehurst back or provide her family with any meaningful closure or relief. "All I can do is acknowledge their grief and sentence Mr Billings according to law." Attorney General Mr Daley told the parliament the Director of Public Prosecutions was responsible for appeals. "Our heart goes out to the family and friends of Molly Ticehurst," he said. "When it comes to sentences like this one, nothing can repair or revert or bring Molly back ... but we do have a justice system presided over by independent judges." Mr Daley said the Director of Public Prosecutions was responsible for appeals. "I had a conversation with the Director of Public Prosecutions earlier this week and the director indicated to me that she and her office have received that judgement and are considering it carefully," he said.