The father of Lilie James, a young water polo coach who was beaten to death by her ex-boyfriend, spoke about the text messages her killer sent from his daughter’s phone.
Lillie James, 21, was brutally murdered in October last year by fellow coach Paul Thijssen, 24, at St Andrew’s Cathedral School, where they both worked, in Sydney’s CBD.
Ms James’ “unrecognizable” body was found with horrific head injuries in the school gymnasium toilets just before midnight after her father, Jamie, received a text message from his phone asking her to be found. they picked up.
The first message to Mr James said: “Don’t ask why or call, please come to school now and pick me up.”
He immediately responded by asking if she was okay and was told, “Everything is fine, only trouble is coming (sic).”
The father-of-two showed the message to his wife, Peta, who told him to leave immediately and pick up Lilie to make sure she was safe.
Water polo coach Ms James, 21, was found dead inside the gymnasium bathroom at St Andrews Cathedral School in Sydney’s CBD on October 25 last year.
Her parents, Peta and Jamie, have revealed they believe text messages they received from their daughter’s phone were written and sent by her killer after she was brutally murdered.
However, James told 60 Minutes on Sunday that it was “too late” for Lilie.
As James rushed to school, his wife sent two text messages to Thijssen asking if he knew their daughter’s whereabouts.
‘Hi Paul, I’m Peta James, Lilie’s mom. “You wouldn’t know where she is nor would you be able to contact her,” the first message said.
“Hi Paul, is there any chance you saw Lilie tonight?” the second message read.
Mrs. James never received a response from Thijssen.
CCTV footage captured Thijssen following Ms James into the school gymnasium toilet and then leaving an hour later on her own.
Police believe Mrs James was murdered shortly after 7pm. Her father received the text messages at around 8.30pm.
“We know that Lilie passed away shortly after seven, when she was changing to go play water polo, and the monster followed her to the bathroom,” Mr James said.
60 Minutes reporter Tara Brown asked James why he thinks Thijssen sent the text messages.
“It just shows the character that the person is, as I say, just an evil, evil monster,” Mr. James said.
“I think, for my part, I really believe that he hoped Jamie would find her,” Mrs. James added.
Hours after Mrs James sent the text messages to Thijssen, her husband returned home with the heartbreaking news that their daughter had died.
“I’ll never forget it,” Mrs. James said.
“I will never forget that moment when realizing that she will never walk through that door again will haunt me for the rest of my life.”
Paul Thijssen, 24, savagely bludgeoned James to death with a hammer just three days after she ended their brief relationship, before killing himself in Vaucluse, in Sydney’s east.
James’ parents said they would never forgive Thijssen after discovering the full extent of the brutality he inflicted on their daughter.
James also spoke about the heartbreaking moment police told him what had happened to his daughter.
While searching for his daughter, Mr James found her bag and school pass and briefly entered the gym, but did not go any further.
Suddenly, the police and an ambulance arrived at the school before Mr James was taken to the police station and informed of the gruesome murder of his daughter.
‘I had to go home and tell Peta and her brother Max. “I felt so bad… I feel like I let her down,” Mr. James said.
The couple said their daughter should have been safe while she went to work and that her murder would affect them for “the rest of their lives.”
They added that they could never forgive Thijssen for killing their daughter, especially after understanding the full extent of the brutality he inflicted.
It can rot in hell. Lilie didn’t deserve this at all. At all. “Selfish, self-centered, entitled and that’s just wrong,” Mr James said.
‘I think if you knew what he did that night, you would understand why we can’t forgive what he did. “It’s quite brutal,” Mrs James added.
Thijssen’s body was discovered by tradies in Vaucluse in the water near the Diamond Bay Reserve two days after Ms James’ murder.
CCTV footage showed Thijssen dressed in black arriving at Chris Bang Crescent in Vaucluse at 8.47pm after the murder.
Security cameras also captured him at 9:03 p.m. getting out of his silver Lexus and walking along the path along the cliff.
He was also seen walking toward a trash bin, where police say he may have thrown the hammer he used as a murder weapon.
