Paul Thijssen biography: 13 things about Australian sports coach born in Best, Netherlands

Paul Thijssen was a Dutch-Australian sports coach. He and Lilie James worked at Saint Andrews Cathedral School in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

Thijssen was a cricket and hockey coach and an after-hours coordinator. James was a part-time water polo coach.

At around 7:00 p.m. on October 25, 2023, James went into the school’s gymnasium toilet and was followed by Thijssen. At around 8:00 p.m., he left the toilet without her.

At 8:47 p.m., Thijssen arrived at Diamond Bay Reserve in Vaucluse, New South Wales where he disposed of a hammer in a bin. At 9:49 p.m., he left the cliff top reserve.

At around 11:50 p.m., Thijssen called 000 to report a body at St. Andrews Cathedral School that needed to be investigated. He later went to The Gap in Vaucluse and plunged to his death from the cliffs.

Thijssen was 5’11” tall. Here are 13 more things about him:

1. He was born in Best, Netherlands as the only child of Stef Thijssen and Esther Thijssen.
2. He went to Heerbeeck College in Best, Netherlands and Saint Andrews Cathedral School.
3. He graduated from Utrecht University in Utrecht, Netherlands.
4. He was 3 years older than James.
5. In 2015, he and his parents moved from the Netherlands to Sydney. He entered St. Andrews Cathedral School where he became a sports captain while his father worked in Sydney.
6. In 2017, he graduated from St. Andrews Cathedral School. He worked there as a sports assistant coach but left to enter Utrecht University.
7. In 2020, he went back to Australia to continue work at St. Andrews Cathedral School and moved in with a friend at a house in Kensington, New South Wales. He also worked as a hockey coach at St. Vincent’s College in Potts Point, Sydney.
8. In August 2023, he moved to another house in Kensington.
9. In September 2023, he and James started dating.
10. On October 23, 2023, he and James broke up.
11. On October 25, 2023, he went to a hardware store to buy a hammer and borrowed a 2003 Lexus sedan hours before James was found dead with serious head injuries at St. Andrews Cathedral School.
12. On October 26, 2023, authorities labeled him as a prime suspect in James’ murder.
13. At around 8:00 a.m. on October 27, 2023, tradesmen found him dead on the rocks beneath Diamond Bay Reserve. He was 24.