The family of a young mother allegedly murdered by her ex last week are pleading for a new law to be introduced in her name.
Molly Ticehurst, 28, of one was found dead inside her home on Young St in Forbes, more than 370km west of Sydney, during a welfare check last week.
Her ex-partner, Daniel Billings, was charged with murder and contravening an apprehended violence order.
Following the mother-of-one’s death, NSW Premier Chris Minns announced his government would seek urgent advice on whether reforms to the state’s bail laws were needed.
Now, Ms Ticehurst’s family are calling for new legislation to be introduced in the state to ensure authorities know the whereabouts of people facing domestic violence charges when on bail.
Molly Ticehurst was allegedly murdered weeks after her ex-partner was released on bail. Picture: GoFundMe
Under the law, police would be notified if alleged perpetrators breach bail or other court directions.
This could be in the form of electronic monitoring devices, which can be used for those on parole.
“There has to be something put in place that says if you receive bail today, we will know where you are the minute you walk out of there,” Jacinda Acheson, a spokesperson for the family, told the ABC.
“The monitoring devices need to be put in place and it needs to become Molly’s Law.
“Molly did everything that she could and, when she finally became brave enough – and let’s make that abundantly clear that Molly was brave, very, very brave and courageous – to ask for help, the help was not given.”
Ms Acheson said the judicial system and victim support teams “let Molly down”.
“In Molly’s case the police did everything they could do to keep Molly safe.”
The 28-year-old was found dead in her Forbes home last week. Picture: Hannah Hodgkinson
At the time of Ms Ticehurst’s alleged murder, Billings was on bail after being charged with raping her three times, stalking her, causing damage to her property and abusing a 12-week-old puppy.
His bail conditions were not to enter the town of Forbes, where Ms Ticehurst lived, and to report to police daily.
State Member for Orange Phil Donato, who met with Ms Ticehurst’s father on Monday, has expressed his support for it to become mandatory for alleged domestic violence perpetrators to wear tracking devices.
“It is already working in the parole space,” Mr Donato told the ABC.
“There is no reason why it couldn’t be extended also to the protection of victims of domestic violence.”
Ms Ticehurst was praised for being “very brave” in asking for help. Picture: Facebook
Mr Billings’ bail conditions included not to enter to town of Forbes. Picture: Supplied
emergency national cabinet
It comes as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese agreed to an urgent national cabinet meeting on Wednesday to address what he called a “national crisis” of violence against women following the killings of 27 women across the country this year.
Following crisis talks, Mr Albanese announced the federal government will invest $925 million to establish the Leaving Violence Program to assist people experiencing intimate partner violence with the financial costs of leaving a violent situation.
“Those eligible will be able to access up to $5000 in financial support along with referral services, risk assessments, and safety planning. This commitment builds on measures put in place by our government to help address financial barriers to escaping violence,” Mr Albanese said.
He also announced the government will introduce new legislation to ban deepfake pornography, among other measures.
Mr Albanese said the possibility of stricter bail conditions for violent offenders was a point of discussion during the meeting, but any changes to bail laws would be led by states and territories.
“When we went through reports from each of the jurisdictions, they spoke about electronic monitoring, they spoke about the range of issues in the justice system as well as what are there. That’s the work we’ll continue,” he said.
“There is a police minister’s meeting this Friday. The Attorney-General’s standing meeting will discuss these issues as well and come back in the next quarter, so [we’re] not kicking this down the road, but will come back with ways in which uniformity or greater uniformity can be considered going forward.”
The prime minister announced a suite of measures to combat high rates of gendered violence. Picture: NCA Newswire/Gaye Gerard
Mr Albanese added it was clear that jurisdictions were “keen to learn off each other”.
“To learn off best practice. What have you worked? Where something has worked, let’s replicate it. Where things aren’t working, let’s change it.”
Paying tribute to Molly Ticehurst
Over a week on from Ms Ticehurst’s death, loved ones are urging Aussies to pay tribute to the 28-year-old on Wednesday night by leaving their front lights on.
“Things happen the dark. Leave your light on for Molly,” Ms Acheson said.
“Speak their names, don’t let them turn into statistics. Tell their stories.”
A funeral service will be held in Forbes on Thursday, ahead of a community walk which will honor Ms Ticehurst on Mother’s Day.
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