An inquest to death that began on March 18, 2025, revealed that Thijssen meticulously planned the attack.
He purchased a hammer and duct tape and rehearsed his actions, as shown in CCTV footage presented during the proceedings.
Highlights
- Lilie James was murdered by her ex-boyfriend and colleague, Paul Thijssen, on October 25, 2025.
- An inquest revealed that the act was preplanned and multiple practices before execution.
- Paul Thijssen called emergency services and informed them about James’s body before entering Diamond Bay Reserve.
Recent developments have emerged from the inquest into the tragic death of Lilie James. The 21-year-old student and water polo coach at St Andrew’s Cathedral School in Sydney was murdered on October 25, 2023.
On the day of the vicious act, Lilie was last seen at around 7 pm entering the gymnasium toilet with a man following behind.
The man was James’ ex-boyfriend, Paul Thijssen, who also worked as a cricket and hockey coach at St Andrew’s.
Police discovered Lilie James’s body before midnight on the day of the incident on October 25, 2024.
Furthermore, the following day, the investigation began with James being identified as a victim of homicide and Paul as a prime suspect.
Moreover, Thijssen was last seen at Diamond Bay in Vaucluse, New South Wales, where he died by suicide, jumping from the cliff, two days after the murder of Lilie James.
Moreover, after post-mortem, it was found that Ms James was struck in the head and neck at least 25 times.
Lilie James’ Murder Was A Calculated, Premeditated Act Of Overkill, Inquest Reveals
An inquest into the demise of James and Thijssen began on March 18, 2025, with counsel assisting the New South Wales coroner, Jennifer Single SC.
Single stated the murder of James was “Calculated.” She said,
The preparation was calculated. It was not a momentary loss of control. It was a premeditated killing
Jennifer Single SC
Similarly, the inquest revealed that Paul exhibited obsessive and abusive behavior leading up to the crime.
Moreover, Thijssen meticulously planned the attack, purchased a hammer and duct tape, and rehearsed his actions, as presented during the proceedings.
Lilie James’ killer practised his deadly ambush inside the Sydney school where they both worked, CCTV has revealed at an inquest into the 21-year-old’s murder. https://t.co/9nNNSFakhM @LeonieFRyan #7NEWS pic.twitter.com/ME15ZcFZu0
— 7NEWS Sydney (@7NewsSydney) March 20, 2025
Similarly, the court was shown “Chilling and disturbing” CCTV footage of Thijssen practicing multiple times-aggressively entering different bathrooms before selecting where he would stage his attack.
Furthermore, he stalked James, monitored her digitally, and created fake social media accounts to manipulate her.
On the pre-medication of the vicious act of Paul Thijssen Single revealed,
In the days after [she broke up with him] … the evidence indicates that Paul stalked Lilie, Paul carefully planned his attack, and that in the hours before the attack, he rehearsed the attack, making a number of dry runs
Jennifer Single SC
Paul Thijssen was born in the Netherlands as an only child and attended St Andrew’s as a student from 2015 to 2017.
In 2020, Paul returned to Australia to continue work at St. Andrew’s as a cricket and hockey coach and an after-hours coordinator.
Phone Call And Messages Reveal Paul Thijssen Informed Police And Lilie James’ Father About Her After The Act
During the inquest, the court heard that Thijssen stayed inside the bathroom for one hour and 12 minutes after the attack.
Afterward, Paul took James’ phone and texted her father, Jamie, pretending to be Lilie. The text read,
Don’t ask why or call please come to the school now and pick me up.. All good just came trouble
Furthermore, the court also played Thijssen’s triple-0 call, which he made after leaving school and arriving at Diamond Bay Reserve. He called,
I would like to report a body in St Andrew’s Cathedral School in Sydney CBD. When you go into the sports area, which is when you enter school through the reception on the left, and the bathroom’s then on the right in the sports area. It’s the first door on the right.
Paul Thijssen
Afterward, the operator asked when he was at the school and asked his name. Paul said,
Um, I don’t remember. I’d rather not disclose.
Paul Thijssen
After the phone call analysis, Ms Single described Thijssen as being “calm, almost emotionless” during the call.
Additional Information
- Thijssen’s Netherlands-based parents did not attend the inquest but had liaised with lawyers assisting the coroner.
- The murder of Lilie James was the subject of a 60-minute story on 27 October 2024.
