The family of murdered childcare worker Molly Ticehurst have had a court win in a separate case amid the heartache caused by delays getting justice for their daughter.
Ms Ticehurst's father Tony was on Tuesday awarded more than $1.3 million in workers compensation after he suffered a debilitating spinal injury while working for Peabody Energy.
He sustained the injury in December 2021 when driving a coal dump truck for the mining company along a potholed road at Wilpinjong Mine, in central west NSW.
The rough surface caused Mr Ticehurst to bounce around in the truck's cabin, but when he requested the road be smoothed out, he was told the request was "on the dance card".
Unsure how long it would take, he kept driving, leaving his neck in so much pain that he couldn't work the next day, the NSW District Court was told.
Medical evidence tendered to the court shows Mr Ticehurst has ongoing pain to his spine, neck and arm that forced him into early retirement.
The 67-year-old required surgery and still struggled to complete domestic duties such as making a bed, Judge Wendy Strathdee noted in her decision.
Molly Ticehurst, who was murdered by her ex-boyfriend in April 2024, had helped him once a week before her death.
"His quality of life has been significantly diminished," Judge Strathdee said.
"The plaintiff's injury has affected almost all aspects of his life".
Peabody argued it had not breached its duty of care to Mr Ticehurst, who should have reported the matter or potentially stopped work on the day of the incident.
But the 67-year-old contended drivers were made to drive to the conditions and his employer had a duty to protect him from the foreseeable risk of injury from the rough road.
Judge Strathdee ruled in his favour, finding Peabody's negligence had contributed to his injuries.
She awarded Mr Ticehurst damages including more than $414,000 in past economic loss and more than $646,000 in future economic loss.
Peabody Energy has been contacted for comment.
The decision came a day after a separate court dealt a blow to the Ticehurst family by delaying the sentencing proceedings for Ms Ticehurst's murderer Daniel Billings.
He fatally stabbed the childcare worker 15 times in a ferocious attack after repeatedly threatening to break into her bedroom in the central western NSW town of Forbes.
He had earlier been charged with several counts of raping Ms Ticehurst and domestic violence offences, but was freed on bail by a local court registrar on April 6, 2024.
The case has garnered national attention and Mr Ticehurst has said lengthy negotiations caused their family "anxiety, sadness and heartache".
Billings was due to be sentenced in June, but the case was delayed following evidence from a psychiatrist who found he planned to kill himself after murdering Ms Ticehurst.
The sentence hearing will now take place in September to allow the psychiatrist to give evidence.
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