The headmaster of a private school in Sydney is facing backlash after making comments that seemingly praised the character of a suspected murderer. Lilie James, a 21-year-old student at St Andrew’s College, was tragically killed in October, allegedly by her ex-boyfriend and colleague, Paul Thijssen. Following James’ death, the headmaster of Shore School, John Collier, sparked controversy by commenting on the murder in the school’s newsletter.
Collier stated that he knew Thijssen during his time as headmaster at St Andrews and described him as not a monster. He went on to say that Thijssen’s actions were a complete contradiction to what was observed of him throughout his life. However, these remarks were met with significant backlash online, with many accusing Collier of excusing toxic masculinity.
In response to the criticism, a spokesperson for Shore School clarified that it was never their intention to cause additional distress to those affected by the tragedy. They emphasized that Collier’s comments were personal and reflected his struggle to make sense of the senseless act. The school expressed their deepest condolences to the family and friends of the victim.
Meanwhile, the St Andrew’s Cathedral School has been inundated with floral tributes and heartfelt notes in memory of Lilie James. Her family, despite their unimaginable grief, visited the school to see the memorial and showed concern and compassion for how the students were coping during this difficult time. The memorial will be in place until Sunday before the flowers are relocated to the Remembrance Garden at Kirrikee.
As details of the crime emerged, it was discovered that Thijssen had used James’ phone to message her father, asking him to pick her up. It is believed that he hoped the father would find Lilie or be present when the police arrived. Thijssen then fled to Vaucluse, where his body was later recovered near the base of the cliffs. Detectives are not actively seeking any other suspects in connection with the crime.
A GoFundMe campaign has been set up to support Lilie James’ family, and it has already raised over $25,000. The tragic incident has left the community in shock and has highlighted the urgent need to address issues related to violence and toxic masculinity. The focus now remains on supporting the grieving family and creating a safe and supportive environment for students during this challenging time.
