Molly Ticehurst’s heartbroken father has told his daughter’s killer that he hopes her screams keep him awake every night, as they came face to face in court.

Tony Ticehurst gave a gut-wrenching victim impact statement on day one of the sentencing hearing for Molly’s ex-boyfriend Daniel Billings in the Orange court house on Thursday.

Billings broke into Ticehurst’s bedroom just before midnight on April 21, 2024, and stabbed her 15 times in a ferocious attack that lasted less than a minute.

He finally pleaded guilty to murder in November 2025, after more than 18 months of legal negotiations.

Billings was present in court wearing a black suit and white shirt with sneakers, often leaning his head against the back of the dock and closing his eyes.

When he was brought into court, he briefly looked towards Ticehurst’s parents before staring straight ahead or at the ceiling.

He bowed his head while listening to several victim impact statements.

Molly Ticehurst’s killer had a history of domestic violence.

About 50 of Ticehurst’s family and friends gathered for the hearing, some wearing shirts saying “Her name was Molly”.

Tony Ticehurst described his 28-year-old daughter as big-hearted and deeply loved, his best friend and confidant.

“When she died, part of me died with her,” Ticehurst told the NSW Supreme Court in Orange on Thursday.

His voice heavy with emotion, Ticehurst addressed Billings directly several times, describing him as selfish and saying he hoped her screams would haunt him forever.

“I believe that after you serve your punishment here on earth, the justice system of the universe will judge you.”

The small devastating thread of comfort he held onto was that “Molly is safe now, Molly is gone”.

Friends and supporters of Molly Ticehurst were at the Orange Court House, NSW. Photo: AAP

Ticehurst’s mother Kate held her hand tightly over her face as her victim impact statement was read to court by a relative.

“Molly was my only child and my best friend,” her statement said, describing sleepless nights and tears that “never stop”.

“My family has been devastated since the morning of April 22, 2024, when a selfish person did a horrendous act and ended my beautiful daughter’s life.

“Molly’s life was taken far too soon in a violent, malicious manner for no reason other than selfishness.

“Molly was my entire world, and now all I have is memories.

“There are no word to describe how my life has been turned upside down.”

Daniel Billings, as depicted in a sketch from prison, faced his victim’s family face to face. Photo: AAP

Billings, a trainee mining driller had repeatedly threatened to break into her home and kill her in the weeks and months before.

He had been charged with several counts of raping Ticehurst and a string of domestic violence offences, but was freed on bail by a local court registrar a fortnight before the murder.

Police had also taken out a provisional apprehended violence order against Billings.

Ticehurst’s murder intensified a national campaign against gendered violence and led to legal changes in NSW, including tighter bail laws for people accused of domestic violence.

Her father said that had brought some comfort, along with knowing his daughter was now safe from Billings.

“Molly’s law has now been introduced; I will be forever proud to be her dad.”

Donna Thornell, the mother of Orange woman Kristy Armstrong, who was killed when her abusive estranged husband ran her car off a road in 2023, was also in court to show her support for the Ticehursts.

The court has begun to view several hours of videos that Billings made before the murder, in which he foreshadowed the crime.

Charges of property damage, animal cruelty offences and breaching the apprehended violence order will be taken into consideration in the sentence.

Justice Natalie Adams has indicated she would hand down her sentence later in September.

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-with AAP