As Daniel Billings sped along dark country roads to carry out a cold-blooded plan to murder his ex-girlfriend Molly Ticehurst, he excitedly sang along to a country song.
"When the man comes around, the hairs on the back of your arms will stand up at the terror," Billings sang on a video filmed on his phone, while listening to a Johnny Cash track.
Moments later he broke into Ms Ticehurst's bedroom at her home in Forbes, in central western NSW, and used a large hunting knife to stab her 15 times.
The ferocious attack lasted no more than a minute.
The 31-year-old has pleaded guilty to Ms Ticehurst's murder on April 21, 2024, a crime that became the centre of a national movement against gendered violence.
The video of Billings in the lead-up to the murder was one of several chilling recordings played at his sentencing hearing in the NSW Supreme Court in Orange on Thursday.
Ms Ticehurst's father Tony Ticehurst told court he pictures Billings' late night drive from Parkes to Forbes and the music that accompanied the journey to kill his beloved daughter.
"I hope that every night Molly's screams keep you awake and the hairs on your arm stand up at the terror," Mr Ticehurst said, referencing the lyrics.
"Knowing that Billings planned his trip to Forbes to take her life is something I will never understand."
Billings had been released on bail by a local court registrar a fortnight before the attack, charged with a string of sexual assault and domestic violence offences against Ms Ticehurst.
As soon as he learned of her allegations of repeated rapes, Billings denied the crimes and became obsessed with clearing his name.
He continued to claim he was wrongfully accused of rape even as Ms Ticehurst lay dead in her pyjamas.
"I can't believe I just did that," he said in another video recorded soon after the stabbing.
Billings was seen raising a bloodied hand to his face as he drove away from her house, appearing to retch.
"I don't know why she accused me of rape, I don't know what her game plan was."
Gasps were heard among the 50 of Ms Ticehurst's friends and family as the final video was played.
Billings, a former trainee mining driller, had repeatedly threatened to break into Ms Ticehurst's home and kill her in the months before the murder.
Ms Ticehurst, a 28-year-old childcare educator, went to police, leading to an apprehended domestic violence order and Billings' arrest on sexual assault and intimidation charges.
Police opposed bail, but a local court registrar granted Billings conditional freedom on April 6 after one night in custody.
In the videos played to court, Billings complained about conditions in the police cells, including a cold shower and a McDonald's breakfast.
Other footage showed Billings crying, smoking, spitting, swearing and ranting as he roamed around his house on the day of the murder, foreshadowing his plan to harm Ms Ticehurst.
The Ticehurst family were in court watching the recordings, after delivering devastating victim impact statements.
Mr Ticehurst described his daughter as big-hearted and deeply loved, his best friend and confidant.
"When she died, part of me died with her," Mr Ticehurst said, his voice heavy with emotion.
Ms Ticehurst's mother Kate held her hand tightly over her face as her victim impact statement was read aloud by a relative.
"Molly was my only child and my best friend," her statement said.
"I'm heartbroken that my girl is no longer with me."
Billings, wearing a black suit and sneakers, listened to proceedings from an elevated wooden dock.
He bowed his head during the victim impact statements and leaned down to stare at his hands while his videos were played.
Billings appeared most interested in evidence from two forensic psychiatrists about his mental state at the time of the murder.
Olav Nielssen, for the defence, said Billings had serious depression and his recordings could be interpreted as "goodbye" videos before a planned murder-suicide.
But Crown psychiatrist David Greenberg opined Billings' depression was low level.
Ms Ticehurst's murder led to legal changes in NSW, including tighter bail laws for people accused of domestic violence.
Her father said that had brought some comfort.
"Molly's law has now been introduced; I will be forever proud to be her dad."
The sexual assault charges were withdrawn after Billings pleaded guilty to murder in the local court in November 2025.
Justice Natalie Adams has indicated she will hand down her sentence later in September.
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