Police investigation after water polo coach found dead at elite Sydney school

An investigation is ongoing into the death of a young woman found deceased at St Andrew’s Cathedral School in central Sydney in what NSW Police have described as a “confronting scene”.

The body of the woman, subsequently identified as water polo coach Lilie James, was found in the gym bathroom at the school just before midnight on Wednesday.

With detectives investigating the scene of the crime today her death is being treated as suspicious with NSW Police wanting to speak to a fellow St Andrew’s employee, Paul Thijssen, in relation to the matter. Thijssen  graduated from the school in 2017 and has since worked there as a sports coach, as well as an after-hours coordinator.

NSW Police Superintendent, Martin Fileman, said the woman had been found with “serious head injuries” after officers received a call from someone who was concerned about her.

Superintendent Fileman added “the actual scene itself is quite confronting for the police who turned up.”

A second crime scene was established at The Gap on the city’s eastern coastline, where NSW Police found “property associated with the homicide” about the same time they found the body.

Image: The exterior of St Andrew’s school.