Molly Ticehurst: Daniel Billings’ family break their silence as his stony-faced mum and angry stepdad emerge to hold sombre gathering – amid serious questions over decision to release him before alleged murder

The family of Molly Ticehurst’s accused killer Daniel Billings have met at a somber gathering in the NSW Hunter Valley as questions arise over a court decision to free him.

Eileen Ogilvie, the stone-faced mother of the alleged killer, and a man believed to be his stepfather, angrily emerged from a house in Cessnock on Thursday, shouting: “We have nothing to say.”

Billings’ stepfather then tried to keep reporters off his street, telling them to “go away,” before other younger family members, believed to be Daniel’s sister and half-brother, arrived at the house.

Billings is accused of murdering his ex-girlfriend Mrs Ticehurst, 28, at a house in Young Street, Forbes, about 137 km west of Sydneyjust before 2am on Monday.

Police charged the 29-year-old with murder after finding Ms Ticehurst’s body in the home she had shared with him during an 18-month relationship that ended in July last year.

At the time of the alleged murder, Billings was facing multiple alleged charges in relation to Ms Ticehurst but had been released on bail due to a decision by a court official.

A man believed to be Daniel Billings’ stepfather became angry and ordered the media to ‘go away’ before shouting: ‘I have nothing to say’

Ms Ogilvie’s 29-year-old son, Daniel Billings (above) has been charged with the alleged murder of his ex-girlfriend, Molly Ticehurst

It has emerged that Billings was left to walk free – and allegedly entered Forbes in breach of a restriction order – after one court decision, followed by a second just days before Ms Ticehurst was allegedly murdered.

Billings had been accused of raping the young mother three times, stalking and harassing her four times, smashing her car windows and attacking her 12-week-old dachshund.

According to Nine newspapersWhen he appeared in court in Dubbo on Saturday to apply for bail on the charges, the presiding officer was L Cusack, a court clerk, rather than a senior magistrate because magistrates do not work at weekends.

Clerks are trained in handling bail applications but, unlike magistrates, are not required to have a law degree.

The alleged murder of Molly Ticehurst occurred after a potentially fatal alleged error resulting from a court decision to release the man now accused of the crime

Family of suspect Daniel Billings gather at a Cessnock home where his grim-faced mother and stepfather refused to comment on their son’s arrest

On April 6, police argued before the court clerk that Billings posed a risk to his former partner and had threatened her.

However, the clerk agreed to release him on bail and imposed a $5,000 bond and a non-violent warrant on behalf of Mrs. Ticehurst, including the condition that he not enter the town of Forbes at all.

Last Thursday the charges were raised again in Dubbo District Court before a magistrate, but this time police did not question whether he should be taken back into custody.

Just under four days later, Mrs Ticehurst’s body was discovered in a house in Forbes.

Police arrested Billings, who allegedly fled to a property in Fifield, more than 60 miles away from Forbes, and he is now on bail and in custody.

Ms Ticehurst’s grieving father Tony Ticehurst told Nine: ‘If they had kept him in prison like the police wanted, we wouldn’t be having this conversation.’

The perceived failure of the system has led to an urgent review of the practice of allowing registrars to decide bail applications for serious crimes.

Daily Mail Australia can reveal Billings worked for a drilling company in nearby Parkes but had just $1.60 when he was arrested on April 5 over these alleged incidents.

The tradie and former amateur boxer lived in the nearby town of Parkes after leaving Forbes following his split from Ms Ticehurst.

Billings has a sister and two half-brothers and had lived in the town of Dalby, near Toowoomba, 200km northwest of Brisbane, before returning to NSW where his siblings live.

Billings will appear at Orange Local Court on June 20.