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AAP
AAP
Duncan Murray

School to host memorial for murdered coach, Lilie James

Lilie James will be farewelled a private service at the Sydney school where she graduated in 2020. (HANDOUT/NSW POLICE)

A private memorial will be held to farewell Lilie James, who was found dead with head injuries at Sydney's St Andrew's Cathedral School last month.

The memorial will be hosted by Danebank Anglican School for Girls in Hurstville, where Ms James graduated in 2020.

The service will be live streamed into St Andrew's Cathedral for the school community to view together. 

At the request of family, the service will be private, with just her friends and the school community invited.

Ms James was working as an assistant water polo instructor for the elite inner-city school and was found dead with horrific head injuries inside the campus gymnasium toilets on October 25..

The body of 24-year-old Paul Thijssen, who also worked at the school, was recovered a day later.

The pair had reportedly been in a relationship for a number of weeks in the lead-up to Ms James' death.

Head of School at St Andrew's, Julie McGonigle said at the time the events had left the school community in utter confusion because they knew both Ms James and Mr Thijssen.

"Our beautiful Ms James, a ray of light, and Mr Thijssen, whose actions are completely incongruent with who we knew," she said.

1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)

Lifeline 13 11 14

1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)

National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028

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