Australian comedian Eurydice Dixon was allegedly raped and murdered as she walked home from a comedy gig in the early hours of Wednesday, June 13, in Melbourne, Australia.
The body of the 22-year-old was found on a football pitch by a passer-by shortly before 3am, reports BuzzFeed.
A 19-year-old man, identified in court as Jaymes Todd, has now been charged with her rape and murder.
Eurydice Dixon/FacebookSince the incident, police in Melbourne have been warning residents to ‘take responsibility for their safety’. However, the message has angered some people and caused a major backlash.
Australian news outlet The Age wrote:
BREAKING: Police are urging people to take responsibility for their safety when walking along in Carlton North, after a woman was found dead there overnight. “Make sure people know where you are and if you’ve got a mobile phone carry it.”
The message, though well-intentioned, has gone down poorly with others.
One person tweeted:
Been thinking about this headline all day. Anytime I am walking/in a cab alone, ESPECIALLY at night, all I literally think about is if I’m about to get hurt. We DO have our phones charged and ready. We DO have our fists clenched. We DO anticipate the worst and it is TIRING.
Been thinking about this headline all day. Anytime I am walking/in a cab alone, ESPECIALLY at night, all I literally think about is if I'm about to get hurt. We DO have our phones charged and ready. We DO have our fists clenched. We DO anticipate the worst and it is TIRING. pic.twitter.com/lwBNq2lAza
— Bridget Hustwaite (@BHustwaite) June 13, 2018
Another wrote:
When young men are tragically killed in one punch attacks an entire city has it’s nightlife shut down indefinitely. When a young woman is brutally raped and murdered women are told to ‘take responsibility for their own safety.’
When young men are tragically killed in one punch attacks an entire city has it's nightlife shut down indefinitely. When a young woman is brutally raped and murdered women are told to 'take responsibility for their own safety'.
— Elly Baxter (@ellybaxterpr) June 14, 2018
While another thought the police were blaming the victims rather than the criminals:
Frankly I think Victoria Police should apologise for their victim-blaming and completely useless “advice” following the murder of Eurydice Dixon. Don’t tell us to be more careful. Tell men they will prosecuted to the full extent of the law if they choose to commit a crime!
Frankly I think @VictoriaPolice should apologise for their victim-blaming and completely useless "advice" following the murder of #eurydicedixon . Don't tell us to be more careful. Tell men they will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law if they choose to commit a crime!
— Alison Joyce (@alliejoys) June 14, 2018
It’s victim blaming and rape culture to tell women to be careful in parks.
— meriki (@MerikiKO) June 14, 2018
Imagine if every time there was a school shooting police urged parents to home school their kids instead? Or if after Martin place cops urged ppl 2 work from home and avoid cafes? Yet every time a woman is raped or murdered cops tell women, not perps, to modify behaviour.
— Nina Funnell (@ninafunnell) June 14, 2018
As The Age reported, Dixon sent a message to a friend just a few hundred metres from home as she was walking back after the gig.
She wrote:
I’m almost home safe, HBU [how about you]
The Facebook message was sent just after midnight while she was walking through Princes Park in Carlton North, Melbourne. Her body was found a few hours later, at about 2.40am.
Following her death, police released CCTV images of a suspect. A man later handed himself in. Jaymes Todd was charged on Thursday with one count each of rape and murder, and is due to face court again on October 3.
Comedians and friends have taken to social media to send tributes to the young performer, while also sparking the debate about violence against women and victim-blaming.
Comedian Alex Lee wrote:
My first stand up set when I was the same age as Eurydice Dixon, was about being afraid walking home at night. Making jokes about it was a way to feel slightly empowered instead of small and frightened. Mourning for this young comedian who was entitled to feel safe.
My first stand up set when I was the same age as Eurydice Dixon, was about being afraid walking home at night. Making jokes about it was a way to feel slightly empowered instead of small and frightened. Mourning for this young comedian who was entitled to feel safe.
— Alex Lee (@alex_c_lee) June 14, 2018
My thoughts with friends & family of Eurydice Dixon. Never met but from all accounts a funny, friendly, warm woman with the world at her feet. This feels close to home & it breaks my heart. Time for courts to get tough on murderers/sex offenders & for men to take responsibility.
— Peter Helliar (@pjhelliar) June 14, 2018
Our thoughts are with Eurydice’s friends and family.
Charlie Cocksedge is a journalist and sub-editor at UNILAD. He graduated from the University of Manchester with an MA in Creative Writing, where he learnt how to write in the third person, before getting his NCTJ. His work has also appeared in such places as The Guardian, PN Review and the bin.