Lilie James's murder revealed toxic relationship dynamics

An inquest into the death of Lilie James revealed that her killer, Paul Thijssen, carefully planned her murder. Thijssen was calm and calculated, demonstrating a pattern of controlling behavior before the attack. He lured James to a bathroom at St Andrew's Cathedral School in Sydney and brutally beat her. The court was shown CCTV footage of Thijssen minutes before the murder, highlighting the horrifying nature of the crime. Lilie James and Thijssen had a brief relationship. Friends described Thijssen's behavior as obsessive, especially after James tried to end things. Family and domestic violence experts testified that Thijssen's actions were part of an emotionally abusive pattern, mistaken for love by those around them. Thijssen felt threatened when he learned James would attend a party with her ex-boyfriend and even monitored her movements through Snapchat. Experts noted that Thijssen's behavior escalated to stalking. He was seen near James's home multiple times and shared intimate photos of her without her consent. Psychological evaluations indicated that he projected an image of confidence while struggling with feelings of inadequacy. On the night of the murder, Thijssen inflicted over 25 hammer blows on James. Afterward, he sent messages from her phone to her father, pretending to be her. He then called emergency services to report the body, displaying no remorse. Shortly after the call, he took his own life. James's parents spoke at the inquest, emphasizing the need for education about healthy relationships. They highlighted the dangers of controlling behavior that can be misinterpreted as affection. They vowed to honor their daughter's memory and advocate for change to prevent similar tragedies.