Friends of Molly Ticehurst have described their shock after she was killed by her former partner, saying they had not believed domestic violence could affect someone their age or occur in their community. Ticehurst was stabbed to death in April 2024, and her former partner, Daniel Billings, was sentenced earlier this month to 28 years in jail, including a non-parole period of 20 years, according to ABC News Australia.
Friend Gaby Shepherd told Australian Story that the outcome still felt unreal, while Aidan Clarke said his understanding of intimate partner violence had been shaped by an older stereotype. The Australian Child Mistreatment Study, published in 2021, found that 48 per cent of surveyed people aged 16 to 24 had experienced psychological, physical or sexual abuse from a partner, compared with 40 per cent of people aged 45 and older.
Pia Birac, deputy chief executive of Domestic Violence NSW, told triple j hack that friends should begin by listening carefully and without criticism. Karen Bevan of Full Stop Australia said young people’s relationships should be treated seriously and that friends should reassure them they are not being judged.
Bevan advised raising concerns through compassion and observation rather than issuing instructions. Mentioning changes such as a friend no longer attending social events can open a conversation, she said, while questions such as how the person is feeling may help them explain what is happening.
Both experts stressed that the person experiencing abuse should retain control over decisions. Birac said friends should follow their lead, respect their choices and help them consider options that are safe and achievable. Bevan cautioned that taking control or pressuring someone to leave can damage trust, while Birac said a person cannot be forced to leave an abusive relationship.
Practical assistance can include helping someone contact a specialist service, a trusted adult or reliable online information. Bevan also said friends who are uncertain about how to respond can seek advice themselves. If someone is in immediate danger, the experts said, call Triple Zero.