Lilie James’ killer Paul Thijssen is buried in secret – but no one has collected his ashes – as a surprising revelation emerges about how he knew the location where he ended his life

EXCLUSIVE

The killer who beat Sydney water polo coach Lilie James to death with a hammer before killing himself has been quietly cremated, but his ashes will not be collected at the funeral home.

Paul Thijssen, the 24-year-old who murdered Ms James, 21, at St Andrew’s Cathedral School three weeks ago, was buried at a private service at Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs Crematorium and Memorial Park last Wednesday.

Thijssen’s body was found at the bottom of the cliffs at Vaucluse in Sydney’s east after he murdered Ms James in the school’s gymnasium toilet some time after 8pm on October 25.

That has been reported Thijssen’s parents, Dutch business leaders Esther and Stef Thijssen, traveled to Sydney in the aftermath of their son’s horrific crime, but it is unclear whether they attended the secret memorial service.

Daily Mail Australia understands the couple have not contacted the crematorium to say what they want to do with their son’s remains, but a source said it was still “fairly early” to do so.

Lilie James will be remembered and her life celebrated after the 21-year-old was tragically murdered by Paul Thijssen

It is believed that they did not want to take his stays back to the Netherlands, and can scatter his ashes in Australia instead.

Daily Mail Australia can also reveal that both Thijssen and Ms James visited a friend in the Vaucluse about three weeks before he killed her.

Some residents believe that this visit – near the cliffs where his body was found – was the reason he knew about the location where he committed suicide.

The brutal murder shocked Australia and made world news.

Ms James died after allegedly agreeing to meet with Thijssen following her decision to end their brief relationship.

Police and school staff found Ms James’ body in the school gymnasium, where both she and Thijssen had worked as sports coaches.

After killing her, Thijssen drove a borrowed Lexus to the Vaucluse, where he dumped a hammer and other items, and stayed for several hours during which he called the police and revealed the location of Lilie’s body.

He is then believed to have fallen from the cliffs of the Diamond Bay Reserve, prompting a major land and sea search for him the next day.

It was only on October 27 that his remains were found after traders noticed Thijssen’s naked, bloated and battered body wedged in rocks near the coast.

Police attempted to retrieve the body via surf ski in rough seas, but ultimately recovered it on foot and carried it to the road.

The remains of Paul Thijssen – found wedged on rocks 36 hours after Lilie James’ murder – were cremated at Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs Crematorium (above) on November 8.

Paul Thijssen’s naked, bloated and battered body was found on rocks on October 27 and taken to the road (above), after which he was formally identified

Thijssen is believed to have undergone a post-mortem examination during which his remains were formally identified through medical records from the Netherlands.

The final chapter of Thijssen’s life begins days before grieving family and friends prepare to celebrate Mrs. James’ memory.

Mrs James will say goodbye to family, friends, students and others in a ceremony broadcast live to pupils she knew and taught at St Andrews Cathedral School.

Following her murder, her former secondary school Danebank Anglican School for Girls paid tribute on its Facebook page “to our dear and much loved alumni”.

“For this young woman, whose joy was palpable, the smile was contagious and the service to her community remarkable,” the school said.

“We support the James family in prayers during this time of unimaginable grief.”

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