Inquest Findings Detail Premeditated Violence in Lilie James Homicide, Coroner issues urgent Recommendations
Sydney, Australia – The father of Lilie James has issued a plea for change following the release of findings from the inquest into her death and that of her former partner, paul Thijssen. The inquest, delivered today, detailed the calculated nature of the violence that led to the deaths of the 21-year-old James and 23-year-old Thijssen, and highlighted critical gaps in addressing coercive control and technology-facilitated abuse.
Coroner Teresa O’Sullivan found that thijssen physically stalked James on seven occasions and meticulously planned her murder, ultimately killing her in a bathroom at St Andrew’s using a hammer. The findings explicitly stated the attack was “calculated and was not a momentary loss of control. it was a premeditated killing.” James died from multiple blunt force injuries to the head and neck. Following the attack, Thijssen died after jumping or intentionally falling from a cliff at Diamond Bay Reserve in Vaucluse.
The case marks the youngest instance of an intimate partner violence homicide-suicide recorded by the Domestic Violence Death Review Team (DVDRT), established in 2010.
O’Sullivan’s recommendations focused on improving community understanding of coercive control,particularly in the context of emerging technology. She cautioned against media portrayals of such violence as “out of character,” stating this “may reinforce unhelpful community stereotypes” and “fails to place such homicides in the context of prior coercive control.”
The coroner emphasized the need for education and details to “identify and respond to coercive controlling behaviours, in particular emerging forms of technology-facilitated abuse,” noting Thijssen used apps like snapchat to harass and stalk James in the days leading up to her death. She specifically called for encouraging individuals to actively consider their technology use and share their location with others, with a focus on reaching 16 to 24-year-olds.
Further recommendations included education programs to raise community awareness and advice services targeting young men to promote respectful and healthy relationship behavior.
O’Sullivan concluded by acknowledging the “alarming and persistent scourge of gendered violence and domestic violence in Australia,” stating, “Lilie’s death is not an isolated tragedy; it is part of a devastating pattern of violence against women that demands urgent and sustained action.” She also extended her condolences to the families of both James and Thijssen.
If you or someone you know is impacted by family and domestic violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732, text 0458 737 732, or visit 1800RESPECT.org.au. In an emergency, call 000.
