St Andrew’s Cathedral School: Details emerge about teenage girl’s death after Sydney private school was rocked by murder of Lilie James
- Peggy Richards, 14, died in a quad bike accident
- She went to St Andrew’s Cathedral School, where Lilie James died
- Do you know more? Email [email protected]
By Charlotte Karp[1] and Candace Sutton for Daily Mail Australia[2]
Published: 04:08, 17 January 2024 | Updated: 04:35, 17 January 2024
A 14-year-old girl who attended the Sydney[3] private school where Lilie James was violently murdered has tragically died in a quad bike accident.
Peggy Richards, who was about to start Year 10 at St Andrew’s Cathedral School, died at a rural property in Goolhi, in northern NSW[4], after 5pm on January 8.
NSW Police confirmed the schoolgirl was the passenger in a UTV quad bike – which is larger than a regular ATV bike and designed to pull heavier loads – when it rolled into a body of water.
Paramedics tried to revive Ms Richards but she died at the scene.
The driver, a 50-year-old man, was taken to Gunnedah Hospital for mandatory testing.
The school’s principal Dr Julie McGonigle told parents Ms Richards had died in a ‘fatal farm accident’ in an email sent over the summer holidays.
Water polo coach Lilie James (pictured) was murdered at St Andrew’s Cathedral School by her ex-boyfriend Paul Thijssen in October last year
Fourteen-year-old Peggy Richards was a student at St Andrew’s (pictured), where Ms James was killed. The teenager died in a quad bike accident over the summer holidays
Dr McGonigle described Peggy as a talented design student who was ‘friends with everyone’.
‘We are aware that this news will come as a shock and will cause grief and distress,’ the senior teacher wrote.
‘Peggy will be deeply missed. She was widely loved by her peers, and the staff who knew her best said, “Peggy had such a kind heart.”
‘She also had depth of insight well beyond her years.
Perhaps that is why she was so strongly driven towards a future in design.’
It was the second tragedy to rock the school within three months after 21-year-old Ms James was bludgeoned to death by hockey coach Paul Thijssen, 24, in the gymnasium bathrooms[5].
It is understood the pair had a brief five-week relationship before she ended it.
Thijssen organised to meet her in the school gym after hours where he was setting up desks for the HSC exams.
Peggy Richards was a passenger on a UTV quad bike (stock image pictured) when it rolled into a body of water
Ms Richards was at a property in Goolhi, in northern NSW (stock image of Goolhi is pictured)
The school’s internal CCTV cameras captured both Ms James and Thijssen entering the gym bathroom after 6pm, but only him exiting two hours later.
Police believe Thijssen carried his murder weapon to the white Lexus he had either borrowed or rented, and drove from the school to Vaucluse in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, arriving at 8.47pm.
Thijssen disposed of the hammer at Vaucluse and, after dialling Triple-0 to report his crime, jumped off the cliff at Diamond Bay Reserve.
A tradesman working on a boardwalk over the cliff above Diamond Bay found Thijssen’s body wedged in the rocks below.
Peggy Richards’ death is being examined by the Crash Investigation Unit.
A report will be prepared for the coroner.
Do you know more?
Email [email protected]
References
- ^ Charlotte Karp (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Candace Sutton for Daily Mail Australia (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Sydney (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ NSW (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ bludgeoned to death by hockey coach Paul Thijssen, 24, in the gymnasium bathrooms (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Sydney (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ New South Wales (www.dailymail.co.uk)