Key Takeaways
- A New South Wales coroner has urged young people to consider their use of location-sharing technology after the murder of Lilie James by her ex-boyfriend Paul Thijssen.
- The coroner ruled that the homicide was in the context of gendered and domestic violence.
- Thijssen had physically stalked Ms James on seven occasions before her death and had carefully planned his attack.
- The coroner has called for greater community awareness about the misuse of technology and the importance of individuals regularly reviewing their own technology practices.
- The coroner has also recommended more awareness as to what domestic violence looks like, and behaviour programs targeted at young men and boys.
Introduction to the Case
A New South Wales coroner has delivered her findings on the "senseless" murder of 21-year-old Lilie James at the hands of her ex-boyfriend Paul Thijssen. State Coroner Teresa O’Sullivan ruled that the homicide was in the context of gendered and domestic violence. The coroner’s findings come after concurrent inquests into Ms James and Thijssen’s deaths in March this year. The inquest heard that Ms James was killed by Thijssen on October 25, 2023, in the bathroom of a gym at St Andrew’s Cathedral School in Sydney’s CBD.
The Events Leading Up to the Murder
The coroner’s findings revealed that Ms James had ended her brief relationship with Thijssen, who she had worked alongside since the beginning of the year. However, Thijssen proceeded to "physically stalk" Ms James on seven occasions in the days before her death and had "carefully planned his attack on Lilie". The coroner stated that Thijssen’s preparation was calculated and that the killing was premeditated. After the murder, Thijssen drove to Vaucluse in Sydney’s east, where he called Triple Zero to alert authorities to Ms James’s whereabouts before jumping or intentionally falling from a cliff in Diamond Bay Reserve with the intention of ending his life.
The Investigation and Findings
The coroner’s investigation was hindered by the fact that Thijssen and Ms James had used Snapchat for communication, where messages disappear. The coroner stated that her understanding of events was primarily based on information provided by others, which had not been tested. Thijssen had also disposed of his usual phone and Ms James’s phone, making it difficult for investigators to gather evidence. The homicide weapon was never retrieved, and the court released a frame of CCTV footage of Thijssen moments before he killed Ms James in the school bathroom.
The Victim and Her Family
Lilie James was a 21-year-old student who was studying for a bachelor of sports management at the University of Technology Sydney. She was also working full-time as a sports assistant at the school, where she was highly regarded within the school community. The coroner described Ms James as a "gregarious, outgoing person surrounded by many friends" and her death as "senseless and violent". Ms James’s parents were in court to hear the coroner’s conclusions and spoke outside court about the importance of awareness and education in preventing gendered violence.
The Coroner’s Recommendations
The coroner expressed her condolences to both families, including Thijssen’s parents in the Netherlands. She stated that there was an "alarming and persistent scourge of gendered and domestic violence in Australia" and that Ms James’s death was "part of a devastating pattern of violence against women that needs urgent and sustained action". The coroner urged for more to be done through education, prevention, and change to protect women’s lives. She also recommended that individuals actively consider the use of technology to share locations with others and that there be greater community awareness about the misuse of technology.
The Importance of Awareness and Education
The coroner’s findings highlighted the urgent need for greater community awareness about the misuse of technology and the importance of individuals regularly reviewing their own technology practices. The coroner also called for more awareness as to what domestic violence looks like, and behaviour programs targeted at young men and boys. The coroner stated that she was acutely aware that both deaths had had a profound and lasting impact on all involved, causing shock and heartbreak. The coroner’s recommendations aim to prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future and to promote a safer and more respectful community for all.
