Staff Outraged by Guard of Honour for Headmaster Praising Killer

Disgusted staff at Shore School have voiced outrage after outgoing headmaster Dr. John Collier was honoured with a Guard of Honour, mere hours after a coroner detailed the brutal murder of Lilie James. Dr. Collier had controversially described James' killer, Paul Thijssen, as an 'absolute delight' in a newsletter, stating he was 'not a monster'. The inquest, concluding on November 27, 2025, classified Thijssen's attack as indicative of the persistent scourge of gendered violence in Australia.

Several staff members anonymously shared their distress, with one stating the celebration made her 'sick to her stomach' and another claiming Dr. Collier avoided 'real consequences.' They felt the event was in extremely poor taste, especially after Ms. James' grieving father pleaded with media not to share positive comments about perpetrators. The school had previously apologized for Dr. Collier's remarks, and he underwent education on gendered violence.

This incident follows previous criticism of Dr. Collier's remarks, which led to a teacher resigning in September 2025. The school later unveiled a portrait of Dr. Collier, celebrating his 'outstanding leadership.' The coroner's findings underscored that Ms. James' death was not isolated but part of a devastating pattern demanding urgent action against violence against women.