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AAP
AAP
National
Stephanie Gardiner and Luke Costin

Victim's family 'justifiably angry' over bailed accused

A man accused of murdering his ex-girlfriend while on bail for rape has had his case heard in court. (Murray McCloskey/AAP PHOTOS)

Circumstances that allowed a childcare worker's alleged rapist and stalker to be released from prison and then allegedly murder her in her own home will be urgently reviewed.

Daniel Billings is back in custody after being charged with the domestic violence-related murder of Molly Ticehurst, 28, whose body was found in a home at Forbes, in central-western NSW, early on Monday morning.

The 29-year-old, from Dalby in Queensland, did not appear when his case was briefly mentioned in Orange Local Court on Tuesday.

Court documents show Billings was on bail at the time of the killing, facing three counts of sexual intercourse without consent and four charges of stalking and intimidating Ms Ticehurst in recent months.

NSW Premier Chris Minns (file image)
Chris Minns said concerns about Billings being on bail and the strength of AVOs were legitimate. (Bianca De Marchi/AAP PHOTOS)

He is also accused of recklessly destroying her car window and a pedestal fan at her home in January, along with aggravated animal cruelty against her 12-week-old dachshund puppy in 2023.

In addition to the murder charge, he faces fresh counts of failing to comply with his bail conditions and breaching an apprehended violence order.

Ms Ticehurst's father Tony said Billings should have been behind bars and someone must be held responsible for her death.

"If they'd have kept him in jail as the police wanted, we wouldn't be having this conversation," Mr Ticehurst told Nine News.

The case has prompted wider concern about why Billings was freed on bail and the strength of apprehended violence orders.

Premier Chris Minns said those were "legitimate questions" and the government would work on answering them.

Details of a review of the case were being finalised on Tuesday evening and will be announced on Wednesday.

"A family has lost their daughter and the circumstances are horrifying for that community and that family," he told reporters on Tuesday.

"Listening to her dad ... your heart breaks for him, he's justifiably angry, he's completely heartbroken, he wants answers as to what happened."

Public Service Association of NSW president Stewart Little said courts were not adequately protecting women, making police and corrections officers' work more difficult.

"It's a kick in the guts for frontline police and for our members that work in the criminal justice system," he said.

Detective Inspector Jason Darcy earlier said Billings and Ms Ticehurst had been in a relationship and the "brutal" killing had her family devastated.

"Naturally they're just distraught," he said on Monday.

An online fundraiser to give Ms Ticehurst "the best send off she deserves" raised $21,000 in 10 hours.

Billings did not apply for bail on Tuesday and it was formally refused by Magistrate David Day.

Mr Day also formally revoked bail on the earlier charges - which were dealt with by a different court - adding Billings had not yet entered pleas that were due.

"That's not good enough," he said.

Billings is due to appear in Parkes Local Court on June 20.

1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)

Lifeline 13 11 14

National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028

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