Murder of Lilie James, 21, at elite school horrifies Australia 

Australia has been gripped by the death of a 21-year-old water polo coach whose body was found dead inside the bathroom of an elite Sydney private school.

Police turned up at St Andrew’s Cathedral School just before midnight on Thursday after a chilling 000 call. 

They encountered a “confronting scene” – Lilie James was dead with extensive head injuries. 

Police believe she was murdered with a hammer just hours earlier, according to local media citing anonymous sources.

CCTV had reportedly captured her colleague, 24-year-old hockey coach Paul Thijssen, entering the bathroom after her. Thijssen, who also made the call to authorities, later emerged alone.

Police have not yet made public comments on a potential motive, but local media reports Ms James had recently ended a relationship with Thijssen. The pair had only been seeing each other for five weeks. 

Thijssen had vanished after calling in the tip-off and police launched a major manhunt. 

They later found items “associated with the homicide” in a bin and on Friday morning, a body which was later confirmed to be Thijssen. 

Her death has left Australia reeling and opened a discussion about women’s safety.