NSW Coroner Teresa O’Sullivan has handed down the findings from an inquest into the murder of 21-year-old Lilie James, calling it “part of a devastating pattern of violence against women.”
In October 2023, James’ body was found in the bathroom of the Sydney school where she worked.
Police ruled her death a homicide, and named a suspect, Paul Thijssen, who was found dead days later in Sydney’s east.
The Coroner found there is “a need… to raise community awareness about how to identify and respond to coercive control behaviours.”
Background
On 25 October 2023, police discovered the body of 21-year-old Lilie James in a bathroom at St Andrew’s Cathedral School in Sydney’s CBD.
According to police, James had serious head injuries.
Police began searching for a man in his 20s, Paul Thijssen. His body was found in the water in Diamond Bay, Vaucluse a few days later.
The two had recently ended a casual relationship, and were both teaching at the school at the time of the attack.
Inquest
In March 2025, a coronial inquest into James’ murder began.
A coronial inquest is held when a person dies in “sudden or unexplained” circumstances, and when there are “unresolved issues” left from an initial investigation.
The coroner’s task is to “determine the identity of the deceased and the date, place, manner and cause of death”.
A coronial inquest is not the same as a trial. A trial cannot be held in this case because the prime suspect is dead.
Evidence
The inquest heard from a range of different experts, and was shown
CCTV footage of Thijssen in the days and hours leading up to the attack.
In one clip, Thijssen stood in a Mitre 10 store looking at different types of hammers and assessing their weight.
In other vision, he appeared to practise the attack by repeatedly bursting into an empty bathroom, and putting a cleaning sign in front of a door so James would enter a different bathroom.
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The coroner heard evidence from experts who argued that prior to the attack, Thijssen exercised coercive control over James.
Coercive control is a form of domestic violence where a person denies a person autonomy and independence over time.
Thijssen reportedly tracked James’ location on Snapchat, as well as physically stalking her.
The inquest also heard that Thijssen had stalked and intimidated an ex-girlfriend before.
Findings
Coroner O’Sullivan concluded Thijssen “carefully planned” killing James, calling it “premeditated”.
She said the murder was part of the “alarming and persistent scourge of gendered violence and domestic violence in Australia”.
O’Sullivan reflected on testimony from Lilie’s mother Peta “that we must teach boys to respect and value women’s opinions… and to accept rejection.”
“There are lessons to learn from these tragic circumstances and areas for improvement,” O’Sullivan said.
The Coroner outlined several recommendations, including:
Education programs about gendered violence, intimate partner violence, coercive control, and technology-facilitated abuse, specifically targeting young men aged 16-24
Raising community awareness about identifying and responding to coercive control
Ensuring “domestic violence screening tools” acknowledge links between coercive control and intimate partner homicide.
These recommendations were sent to NSW Premier Chris Minns.
Response
Speaking outside court this morning, James’ father Jamie said his daughter’s life had been “cut way too short”.
“If it’s been a while since you talked about violence or abuse against women... please start that conversation — awareness, education and speaking up matters,” he said.
Jamie also called on media to “not report on positive comments” calling domestic violence perpetrators “good blokes.”
“It’s not appropriate,” he said.
