A young female staff member of St Andrew’s Cathedral School in Sydney has been found dead inside the school, believed to have been murdered.
The Age, The Daily Telegraph and News.com.au have identified the victim as 22-year old water polo coach, Lilie James.
Homicide detectives found the body of James inside the toilet area of the school’s gym Thursday night — a scene which Superintendent Martin Fileman described as “quite confronting for the police that turned up.”
Fileman spoke to the press this morning, revealing that the victim was found with “serious head injuries” and that “from her injuries, it was apparent she was the victim of a homicide.”
“We’re currently looking for a male person also in his early 20s who we believe can assist us,” Fileman said. “We believe he was also employed by the school.”
“That male person is currently outstanding.”
Fileman confirmed that the suspect and the victim were known to each other.
“He is also employed by the school. Police air wing and marine area command are currently trawling the coastline just off South Head and are currently working with police who are conducting a line search in that reserve. There is nothing to indicate there was any domestic violence or AVOs between them.”
In the last few hours, police have identified the suspect as Paul Thijssen.
A second crime scene has been made at Diamond Bay Reserve in Vaucluse, nine kilometres from the school, where items “associated with the homicide” were found.
Police have cordoned off an area near a cliff as police helicopter and its marine command continue the investigation and search for Thijssen.
“We just ask everybody to be mindful of the fact that we’ve got numerous students turning up,” Superintendent Fileman said, adding that the incident is an “extremely daunting experience” for the victim’s family and the school community.
“They’re going to be confronted by this today,” he said.
“And the fact that this, we believe that the female is an employee of the school, and they’re going to be confronted by this when they turn up.”
Parents of students at St Andrew’s Cathedral School received a message this morning, informing them that the school would be closed for the remainder of the week — “except those sitting Year 12 exams,” the message read.
A spokesperson from the school said in a statement: “No students were involved and there is no ongoing threat.”
“An area of the school, not accessible to students, is a crime zone, and we await the approval of police before bringing everyone back on site.”
“St Andrew’s Cathedral School remains closed today to all students…as the school continues to work with Police following an onsite death overnight.”
Parents also received an email from the head of St Andrew’s, Dr Julie McGonigle: “I realise you will have a lot of questions, but we do not have the authority to release further details – this information will come through police at the appropriate time in their investigation,” she said.
“We have also brought our school counsellors onsite so if parents or students require additional support, this can be delivered by professionals.”
Femicide researcher and journalist Sherele Moody noted on X (formerly Twitter) that the murder was the third time in six days she is reporting another woman killed.
“She is the 55th woman killed this year!” Moody wrote.
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