Just over two weeks ago, 29-year-old Daniel Billings was released on bail and charged with a long lineup of violent offences, including rape.
The offences included three counts of sexual intercourse without consent, four counts of stalking and harassment, two counts of damaging or destroying property and one count of animal cruelty.
He was released on $5000 bail on April 6, and placed on an interim apprehended violence order by the Dubbo Local Court.
This week, Billings was charged with murder after the body of 28-year-old Molly Ticehurst was found in a home in Forbes, in a scene described as “brutal” by first responders.
Ticehurst is the 25th woman killed by violence in Australia this year, according to Counting Dead Women Australia and Destroy the Joint. This toll is already at almost half what it was in 2023, despite being less than four months into the year. Nine women have been killed by violence in April alone.
Ticehurst was a mother of one and a dedicated early childhood education teacher. Given the lineup of charges against her former partner, we can only imagine how terrified she must have felt knowing that he was out in the community.
The regional NSW community is angry, as are advocates for ending violence against women, service providers. So too are women across Australia who have seen example after example of women being murdered both in and out of their homes.
For all the talk about the need for stronger investments in women’s safety, it’s incredible to think through the seemingly potential opportunities available to have kept this alleged offender — and others — behind bars while the serious and violent charges against him were examined.
As NSW Police Association President Kevin Morton said, “We invest ourselves into caring for victims and helping them through such a traumatic event, putting the alleged offender before the court, only the see them get bail or a slap on the wrist.”
NSW Premier Chris Minns has ordered a review into the court decision, with the details to be finalised and announced later today. “A family has lost their daughter, and a little boy has lost his mother,” he said. “Our justice system must protect the community from those who pose an unacceptable risk.”
Forbes Shire Mayor Phyllis Miller, devastated by the events that have occurred in her community, told ABC New Breakfast that women are not safe in rural NSW.
But as we’ve seen in recent weeks and months, there is no metropolitan or rural area where women are safe in Australia.
Women are not safe in their own homes, whether that home is an apartment, house or farm. And regardless of whether that home is in Forbes in regional NSW, or Bribbaree in rural NSW, or Glenorchy in Tasmania, or in or just outside of Ballarat in Victoria, or suburban Perth, or Morayfield near Brisbane or Kununurra near Darwin, or in any major city. Women are unsafe in their own homes even after a former violent partner has been charged with violent crimes against them.
But then women are not safe outside of their home either.
Women are not safe going for a Sunday morning run, or while visiting shopping mall on a Saturday afternoon, or when taking a child to their regular martial arts studio, or in the car park of their local shopping village after picking up groceries.
Minister for Women Katy Gallagher agrees, calling violence against women a crisis in Australia and telling breakfast television this morning of a “reality” in Australia where women do not feel safe.
A review into the Billings’ bail release will raise questions and further “what ifs” for the family and community.
But the first and foremost is already available now: what if a magistrate had refused bail to a man charged with serious and violent offences?
And what if we treated violence against women with the same level of urgency, funding, ferocity and panic as we do on terrorism?
What if we funded ending violence against women appropriately and took concerns and fears raised by women seriously?
Delia Donovan, CEO of Domestic Violence NSW, says, “We need systems and courts that prioritise the safety of victim-survivors, above all else. ADVO’s must be taken seriously, and we must examine how we minimise risk when a perpetrator has already broken the law.”
Donovan is calling for the NSW Government to commit to investing at least $40 million to help end preventable murders in the state and to promote greater accountability at all system levels, including the courts.
Pictured above: Four of the 25 women killed by violence in Australia this year including 65-year-old Nerol Doble, 21 year-old Hannah McGuire, 35-year-old Chaithanya ‘Swetha’ Madhagani, and 28-year-old Molly Ticehurst.
If you or someone you know is experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, domestic, family or sexual violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732, text 0458 737 732 or visit 1800RESPECT.org.au for online chat and video call services.
If you are concerned about your behaviour or use of violence, you can contact the Men’s Referral Service on 1300 766 491 or visit http://www.ntv.org.au.
Feeling worried or no good? No shame, no judgement, safe place to yarn. Speak to a 13YARN Crisis Supporter, call 13 92 76. This service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.