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Murder of Lilie James

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Not to be confused with Lily James.
Murder of Lilie James
LocationSt Andrew's Cathedral School, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Date25 October 2023; 12 months ago (2023-10-25)
Attack type
Murder, bludgeoning, beating
VictimLilie James (aged 21)
PerpetratorPaul Thijssen
(died 2023, aged 24)
MotiveUnknown

Lilie James (c. May 2002 – 25 October 2023) was a student and water polo coach from Sans Souci, New South Wales, who was found murdered at St Andrew's Cathedral School in Sydney CBD. She was last seen alive at around 7 p.m. on 25 October 2023, entering the gymnasium toilet with a man following behind. Her body was discovered by police before midnight that day.[1]

On 26 October 2023, police began investigations, initially at St Andrew's where they identified Lilie James as a victim of homicide. Paul Thijssen was later identified and named a prime suspect after reportedly disappearing. Thijssen was last seen at Diamond Bay in Vaucluse, New South Wales, where he died by suicide. His body was found and identified on 27 October 2023 by police.

Background and murder

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Lilie James was born in May 2002 to Jamie and Peta James and resided in Sans Souci, New South Wales.[2] She graduated in 2020 at Danebank, in Hurstville, and studied sports business at the University of Technology Sydney the following year.[2][3][4] James was employed part-time by St Andrew's Cathedral School as a water polo coach and began dating Paul Thijssen, who was a sports coach and former student of the school, five weeks prior to her death.[4][5] Close friends of James described her as "the nicest and kindest person".[6]

Thijssen was born in the Netherlands as an only child and attended St Andrew's as a student from 2015 to 2017, where he was a sports captain and part of the school leadership team.[7][8][9] He was hired as a sports assistant coach by the school the following year before completing his degree at a university in the Netherlands.[7][10] Thijssen returned to Australia in 2020 to continue work at St Andrew's as a cricket and hockey coach and an after-hours coordinator.[7][11][12][13] He was also listed as the hockey coach at St Vincent's College in Potts Point.[7] Thijssen was studying for a master of teaching in order to become a PE teacher.[8][12] Both James and Thijssen had no previous domestic violence-related issues or apprehended violence orders.[14]

On 25 October 2023 at approximately 7 p.m., James went into the school's gymnasium toilet before CCTV captured Thijssen following behind her.[5][15] The two split just days prior and it was assumed a fight ensued in the toilet.[5] About an hour later, Thijssen left the toilet without James and arrived at Diamond Bay Reserve at 8:47 p.m., where he disposed of a hammer in a bin.[16] Thijssen left the location at 9:49 p.m. before calling the police two hours later, informing them of a body at St Andrew's that needed to be investigated.[15][17] Thijssen's last known location was at The Gap in Vaucluse, New South Wales, where he left a backpack with his personal belongings.[15][18][19]

Investigation

[edit]

First crime scene

[edit]

A woman's body was found by police, before midnight on 25 October 2023, in the school's gymnasium toilet.[18][19][20][21][22] Police described the body "as a woman in her early twenties" and concluded her cause of death to be homicide.[19] Police also reported "serious head injuries" found on the body, leading her to be unrecognisable when discovered.[19][23] The search for Thijssen, although not identified at this point, began as police believed he could assist with the investigation.[19][24] At approximately 4:30 a.m. on 26 October 2023, St Andrew’s sent an email to all students' parents, stating that the school would be closed for the rest of the week due to a "critical incident."[19] A second text message was sent at 6:30 a.m. to assure parents that no students were involved in the incident.[19] The school brought in counsellors to provide professional support to both students and parents. Students taking their Higher School Certificate and final year International Baccalaureate exams were relocated to separate buildings.[25] At around 10:35 to 10:40 a.m., the woman's body was confirmed to be James by a friend of her family. Thijssen was identified by police at 11:40 a.m.[19]

On 30 October 2023, reports emerged that Thijssen sent a text message to James' father using her phone, asking him to pick her up from the school.[26] Criminologist Xanthe Mallett speculated that the killer's motive for sending those texts was either to ensure that James' body would be found or to potentially alter the time at which the police believed she had died.[27] Criminal psychologist Tim Watson-Munro speculated that the murder was premeditated after it was revealed that Thijssen travelled to a hardware store for a hammer and rented a car on the day of the murder; he drove the same car to school.[28] Watson-Munro added that Thijssen was fully aware and "had a clear intention."[29]

Second crime scene

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On 26 October 2023 at around 1 a.m., a second crime scene was established, 11 km away from the initial scene, at the Gap in Vaucluse where the last sighting of Thijssen was reported.[19] Police also found "property associated with the homicide" located in the same proximity.[19] After his disappearance, police began investigating if Thijssen had killed himself after the crime and was labelled as a prime suspect.[30] At 9 a.m., police helicopters and boats arrived at Vaucluse to conduct line searches across South Head Reserve while police patrolled the coastline.[19] The area around the cliff edge at Diamond Bay was cordoned off and a bin was also sealed off with a police rescue tent set up nearby.[19][31] At 5 p.m., a backpack with Thijssen's personal belongings, including a hammer, was found.[32] Police concluded the hammer was the weapon used to inflict harm to James's head.[19]

Police returned to the scene with ambulances at 8 a.m. on 27 October 2023.[33][34] A body was spotted on the rocks beneath Diamond Bay Reserve by a group of tradesmen, who were working nearby on a construction site at the top of the cliff.[35] Police were notified and a rescue team was organised to retrieve the body.[36] At 12:15 p.m., the body was retrieved by a rescue and bomb disposal unit, marine unit and Westpac Rescue helicopter.[16][34][37] The body was reported to be male and was transported at 3:30 p.m. from a blue forensics tent.[38] The male was identified to be Paul Thijssen after fingerprints were used and cross-referenced with prints from Netherlands embassy to confirm.[39][40][41] Police also confirmed that Thijssen arrived at the location at 10 p.m. after the murder, but it remains unknown what he did for two hours before contacting emergency services at around 11 p.m.[42][43]

Tributes and aftermath

[edit]

The first statement by Lilie James's family was released on 27 October 2023, stating: "She was vibrant, outgoing, and very much loved by her family and friends. We are tremendously grateful for the support of our community at this difficult time. As a police investigation is underway, we will not be providing further comments."[44] Friends and students who knew James posted on social media, expressing their condolences to her family.[45] A video also stood on St Andrew's website, displaying James performing a monologue of Macbeth as part of her HSC drama major work.[45] Flowers were placed at a makeshift memorial in front of the school and James's home as a tribute to James's passing.[38][45][46]

A letter by St Andrew's principal was sent to all parents, saying that police had assured her that the killing was unforeseeable and vowed not to let the "horrors of evil" define the school community.[47] Notes from some of James’s closest colleagues were released as a memoir of James.[47] As a result of the incident, the gymnasium was restricted to students and the school's library was turned into a drop-in counselling centre.[47] Assessments were either postponed or cancelled with students eligible for special consideration before exams.[25][46] The toilet block of the gymnasium was planned to be demolished on 3 November 2023.[48]

A candlelight vigil was held for James in Sans Souci (where she was raised) on 28 October 2023, with members of the community, including close friends and family, attending.[49] St Andrew's also held a special assembly for students and staff on 30 October 2023.[50] A GoFundMe was launched by a close friend in support of James's family.[51][52] James's funeral was held at Danebank, her former school, on 17 November.[53]

Thijssen's parents will have his body cremated and scatter his ashes in Sydney rather than the repatriation of his body to the Netherlands.[54]

The murder of Lilie James was the subject of a 60 Minutes story on 27 October 2024.[55]

Use of artificial intelligence

[edit]

James’ death became the subject of controversy over the use of generative artificial intelligence. A poll included by Microsoft Start on a Guardian article asked readers whether they thought James had died by murder, suicide or accident. The poll was widely condemned for being in poor taste and some critics mistakenly believed The Guardian’s staff had written it. The incident led to calls for Microsoft to limit its use of generative AI in news-related contexts.[56][57]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Turnbull, Tiffanie (29 October 2023). "Lilie James: Murder at elite school horrifies Australia". BBC News. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  2. ^ a b Baker, Jordan; Ireland, Olivia (26 October 2023). "Lilie James, found dead at Sydney school, a young woman with the world at her feet". Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 26 October 2023. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  3. ^ Wilkie, Kelsey; McIntyre, Angus (26 October 2023). "Details emerge about horror school killing as police search for alleged attacker". news.com.au. NCA NewsWire. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  4. ^ a b Cuneo, Clementine; Hanrahan, Josh (26 October 2023). "Tributes to an "exceptional woman" murdered by ex-lover in school toilet". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 26 October 2023. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  5. ^ a b c Hanrahan, Josh; Cuneo, Clementine; Morri, Mark; Tyson, William; McGregor, Tamaryn; Powell, Zara (26 October 2023). "St Andrew's Cathedral School murder: Lilie James identified as victim". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 26 October 2023. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  6. ^ Davis, Miriah (27 October 2023). "Friends, family pay tribute to 'loving, beautiful' Lilie James". Nine News. Nine Entertainment. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
  7. ^ a b c d Tassell, Dominique; Daoud, Elizabeth (26 October 2023). "Water polo coach, 22, found murdered at private school, police hunt colleague". Seven News. Seven West Media. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  8. ^ a b Hanrahan, Josh (26 October 2023). "From half-a-world away, Paul Thijssen now wanted and missing". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 26 October 2023. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  9. ^ Baker, Jordan; Ireland, Olivia (27 October 2023). "School pays tribute to 'adored' Lilie James as suspected killer's body found". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 27 October 2023. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  10. ^ Parkes-Hupton, Heath; Harris, Lia (25 October 2023). "Prestigious Sydney school a crime scene after staff member found dead in suspected murder". ABC News. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  11. ^ Rose, Tamsin; Bucci, Nino (26 October 2023). "Woman found dead at St Andrew's school in Sydney identified as water polo coach Lilie James". The Guardian. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  12. ^ a b Ireland, Olivia; Baker, Jordan (26 October 2023). "Police search for sports coach after colleague's body found at CBD school". The Age. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  13. ^ "Lilie James, found dead in Sydney school bathroom, recently broke up with man wanted for questioning". news.com.au. 26 October 2023. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  14. ^ Parkes-Hupton, Heath; Barrett Peters, Courtney (26 October 2023). "Body recovered in search for man wanted over woman's 'horrific' death at Sydney school". ABC News. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  15. ^ a b c Morri, Mark; Hanrahan, Josh; Cuneo, Clementine; Powell, Zara (26 October 2023). "Paul Thijssen called police and notified them of Lilie James' body at St Andrew's Cathedral School". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 26 October 2023. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  16. ^ a b Vidler, Adam; Jeffrey, Daniel (27 October 2023). "CCTV shows suspected killer in hours after Lilie James' murder". Nine News. Nine Entertainment. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  17. ^ Crittenden, Madeline; Mardon, Cydonee (27 October 2023). "CCTV captures Paul Thijssen's movements in Vaucluse after killing Lilie James". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 27 October 2023. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  18. ^ a b Vidler, Adam (26 October 2023). "Police search for colleague of water polo coach found dead at school". Nine News. Nine Entertainment. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  19. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "St Andrew's Cathedral School murder: How it unfolded". The Daily Telegraph. 26 October 2023. Archived from the original on 27 October 2023. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  20. ^ Wu, David (26 October 2023). "Manhunt for male teacher after staffer murdered at top Sydney CBD school". Sky News. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  21. ^ "Police searching for colleague of water polo coach found dead at Sydney school". SBS News. Special Broadcasting Service. Australian Associated Press. 26 October 2023. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  22. ^ "Grim details emerge after woman's body discovered in prestigious Sydney school's gym toilet". Seven News. Seven West Media. 26 October 2023. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  23. ^ Erickson, Joel (27 October 2023). "Body found in search for Lilie James' suspected killer". news.com.au. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  24. ^ Wu, David (26 October 2023). "Manhunt for male teacher after staffer murdered at top Sydney CBD school". Sky News. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  25. ^ a b Carroll, Lucy; Harris, Christopher (26 October 2023). "'We experience this grief together': School offers support to students after staff death". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 26 October 2023. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  26. ^ Luff, Bryce (30 October 2023). "Disturbing message water polo coach's killer sent her family". Seven News. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
  27. ^ Brennan, Aisling (31 October 2023). "Lilie James: Reason killer Paul Thijssen texted her dad". news.com.au. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
  28. ^ Noack, Georgina (2 November 2023). "Paul Thijssen bought a hammer and borrowed a car the day he planned to kill Lilie James". news.com.au. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
  29. ^ Rolfe, Brooke (2 November 2023). "Dangerous pattern of behaviours provide insight into Paul Thijssen killing". news.com.au. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
  30. ^ Wilkie, Kelsey; McIntyre, Angus (26 October 2023). "Details emerge about horror school killing as police search for alleged attacker". The Australian. NCA NewsWire. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  31. ^ Daoud, Elizabeth (26 October 2023). "Relationship at centre of Sydney school staffer's horrific murder revealed". Seven News. Seven West Media. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  32. ^ Tassell, Dominique (27 October 2023). "Principal shares emotional update on 'horrors of evil' after suspected bathroom murder". Seven News. Seven West Media. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  33. ^ Crittenden, Madeline (26 October 2023). "St Andrew's Cathedral School murder: New details on how Lilie James died as search resumes for colleague Paul Thijssen". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 26 October 2023. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  34. ^ a b Ireland, Olivia (27 October 2023). "Body found off Sydney cliffs as search resumes for Paul Thijssen". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 26 October 2023. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  35. ^ Burns, Brielle; Evans, Jack (27 October 2023). "'Horrors of evil': Principal's letter after Lilie James' death". news.com.au. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  36. ^ Vidler, Adam (27 October 2023). "Body found in hunt for Lilie James' missing colleague". Nine News. Nine Entertainment. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  37. ^ Daoud, Elizabeth (27 October 2023). "Body found in search for man suspected of killing water polo coach". Seven News. Seven West Media. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  38. ^ a b Green, Eli; Wang, Jessica (27 October 2023). "Body wheeled away after body found in search for man connected to Lilie James". news.com.au. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  39. ^ Crittenden, Madeline; Mardon, Cydonee (27 October 2023). "Fingerprints identify body as killer after Lilie's family breaks silence". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 27 October 2023. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  40. ^ Burns, Brielle; Evans, Jack (28 October 2023). "Lilie James school death: Killer's haunting two-hour act". news.com.au. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
  41. ^ Mageros, Adriana; Staveley, Patrick (27 October 2023). "Body retrieved in Sydney's east amid major search for Lilie James' killer". Sky News. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  42. ^ Crittenden, Madeline; Mardon, Cydonee (28 October 2023). "Lilie James murder: Police can account for the actions of James Thijssen for all but two hours". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 27 October 2023. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
  43. ^ "Major update in search for Lilie James' suspected killer". Seven News. Seven West Media. 28 October 2023. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  44. ^ "'We are devastated and heartbroken': Lilie James' family release statement after suspected murder". ABC News. 27 October 2023. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  45. ^ a b c Cuneo, Clementine; Hanrahan, Josh (26 October 2023). "Tributes to an "exceptional woman" murdered by ex-lover in school toilet". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 27 October 2023. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  46. ^ a b Ward, Mary (28 October 2023). "CBD school to set up space for flowers, tributes to 'much-loved' coach". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 28 October 2023. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
  47. ^ a b c Rose, Tamsin (27 October 2023). "Lilie James remembered as 'vibrant' and 'adored by all' as elite Sydney school reassures parents". The Guardian. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  48. ^ Meacham, Savannah (3 November 2023). "Toilet block where Lilie James found dead to be demolished". Nine News. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
  49. ^ "Sombre vigil held to remember murdered water polo coach Lilie James". Nine News. Nine Entertainment. 28 October 2023. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
  50. ^ Touma, Rafqa (30 October 2023). "Lilie James death: 'grief, shock and utter confusion' as St Andrew's Cathedral students return to school". The Guardian. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  51. ^ Keszler, Sarah (28 October 2023). "'Broken forever': Vigil held for murdered school water polo coach". Seven News. Seven West Media. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
  52. ^ "Principal should reflect on words about Lilie James accused, says minister". The Sydney Morning Herald. 4 November 2023.
  53. ^ Harris, Christopher; Carroll, Lucy (2023-11-17). "'We are so proud of you': Lilie James farewelled in Sydney". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2023-11-17.
  54. ^ Sharma, Yashee (1 November 2023). "Family of Lilie James' suspected killer makes tough decision". Sky News. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
  55. ^ Baker, Jordan (2024-10-27). "Revealed: The chilling text Lilie James' killer sent her father". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2024-10-27.
  56. ^ Milmo, Dan (1 November 2023). "Microsoft accused of damaging Guardian's reputation with AI-generated poll". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
  57. ^ Thompson, Polly; Tenore, Haley (1 November 2023). "Microsoft under fire over AI-generated poll about death of 21-year-old woman on its news platform". Business Insider. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
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