An inquest into the tragic death of 21-year-old Lilie James commenced recently, revealing disturbing details about her murder at the hands of her former partner, Paul Thijssen. This initiated a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the events that led to the fatal encounter inside St Andrew's Cathedral School in Sydney.
On October 25, 2023, Lilie was found brutally beaten in the bathroom area of her workplace. The investigation has since confirmed that Thijssen, now deceased, planned the attack on Lilie with meticulous forethought. According to Jennifer Single SC, counsel assisting the inquest, evidence will show that Thijssen stalked Lilie and rehearsed the details of his violent act prior to committing it, exemplifying a calculated approach rather than a spur-of-the-moment mishap. “It was not a momentary loss of control – it was a premeditated killing,” she stated during the proceedings launching on March 18, 2025.
The inquest will consider various aspects of their relationship, including its status leading up to Lilie's death and whether any warning signs suggested that Thijssen could become violent. Witnesses know that the two shared a brief romantic relationship, which ended just days before Lilie's murder.
The situation escalated violently, as the evidence suggests that Thijssen murdered Lilie with a hammer in a horrific display of aggression. It has come to light that prior to the murder, he was seen stalking her and that he had made several dry runs of the attack in advance. “The preparation was calculated,” Ms. Single noted. “This was not a momentary loss of control but rather an act thoroughly planned.”
Following the murder, Thijssen was found dead at Diamond Bay Reserve after reportedly taking his own life, leaving behind unanswered questions about his motivations and any underlying factors that contributed to his drastic actions. The inquest will seek to explore his state of mind leading up to these tragic events.
The family of Lilie James has been present throughout the inquest, with her parents Jamie and Peta visibly affected by the events as they grapple with the loss of their daughter. In opening statements, Ms. Single expressed condolences to the family, noting the emotional toll the proceedings would have on them.
The police investigation into the deaths has been characterized as extraordinarily thorough, incorporating extensive documentary evidence, video and audio footage, as well as expert testimony. Furthermore, the inquest will delve into Thijssen's previous relationships, seeking to uncover potential patterns of coercive control and stalking behavior that may have escalated during his time with Lilie.
Witnesses have recounted how Thijssen had previously exhibited troubling behavior towards another partner, notably once demanding she share her iPhone location. This former girlfriend noted that when she turned off the location feature, Thijssen reacted with agitation and anger, leading her to feel suffocated by the relationship. Other witnesses recalled incidents of Thijssen's aggressive outbursts, including one instance where he punched nearby branches after she attempted to break off their relationship.
In this case, coercive control has been highlighted as a contributing factor, with research showing that it often leads to intimate partner homicides. According to Counting Dead Women Australia, 64 women were killed by violent acts in 2023, underscoring the urgent need for increased awareness and preventive measures regarding relationship violence.
The inquest will also investigate whether authorities could have intervened at any stage given the troubling nature of Thijssen's behavior prior to Lilie's murder. The coroner, Teresa O'Sullivan, aims to uncover if the system failed to recognize the signs of potential violence.
The James family has been vocal about their sorrow and anger over the circumstances leading to Lilie’s death, and they are hopeful that the findings from this inquest will lead to fundamental changes in handling domestic violence cases. "The painful reality is that we may never know the answers to those questions," said Ms. Single, as she emphasized the importance of understanding the broader implications of such tragedies.
As the inquest unfolds, it is expected to provoke discussions on young adult relationships, coercive control, and the role technology plays in both perpetuating and mitigating potentially dangerous behaviors. The aim is not only to deliver justice for Lilie James but to shed light on the pervasive issue of relationship violence that affects countless others.
Thus, the findings from this inquest may help inform policies and educational campaigns to better prepare young adults and their families to identify harmful relationships and act upon concerns before it's too late.
As it currently stands, the inquest brings to the forefront not only the tragic demise of a young woman with a bright future but also the broader societal obligations to combat and prevent violence within intimate relationships.
