Image copyright FACEBOOK Image caption Eurydice Dixon has been remembered as a promising young comedian
The alleged rape and murder of a young comedian as she walked home at night in Australia has prompted an outpouring of public grief and anger.
The body of Eurydice Dixon, 22, was found at a football field in Melbourne early on Wednesday, only hours after she had performed a gig at a city bar.
A man, 19, has been charged by police.
Comedians and the public have inundated social media with tributes to Ms Dixon, in a case that has reignited local debate about violence against women.
For many, it has evoked memories of the 2012 murder of an Irish woman, Jill Meagher, whose death in an adjacent Melbourne suburb prompted a peace march involving an estimated 30,000 people.
Although not widely known, Ms Dixon has been remembered as a talented comedian at the start of her career.
"She had a great passion for women's issues and social justice issues and she drew upon them a lot in the material that she produced as a comic," fellow comedian Nicky Barry told the Australian Broadcasting Corp.
Skip Twitter post by @alex_c_lee 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 Report
Skip Twitter post by @pjhelliar 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 Report
Authorities allege that Ms Dixon was attacked in the suburb of Carlton North sometime after leaving a bar in central Melbourne about 22:30 local time on Tuesday.
A 19-year-old man, Jaymes Todd, handed himself to police on Wednesday and was charged with her rape and murder. Police say they did not know each other.
Local media reported that Ms Dixon was a few hundred metres from home when she was attacked.
According to The Age newspaper, she had earlier sent a text message to a friend saying: "I'm almost home safe, HBU [how about you]."
On Thursday, a court prohibited the publication of images of Mr Todd after his lawyer argued that he was vulnerable in custody, and that intense media scrutiny could affect the reliability of witness statements.
Mr Todd did not apply for bail and will face a court again on 3 October.
Ms Dixon's death has also renewed a more general discussion in Australia about violence against women.
Australia's human rights commission has said that the country has "a disturbingly high rate of violence against women".
According to government figures, one in five women, and one in 20 men, have experienced sexual violence or threats since the age of 15.
Many women on social media have shared their own thoughts about safety, with some detailing personal experiences.
Some also criticised police messages which had warned people to be aware of their surroundings, with some likening the language to victim-blaming.
Skip Twitter post by @chloebooker Pls people don’t blame her for walking in a park at night, as is our society’s default position. BLAME HER ATTACKER. Women should be able to walk safely in our streets and parks. Rest in peace Eurydice Dixon. — Chloe Booker (@chloebooker) June 14, 2018 Report
Skip Twitter post by @PatsKarvelas I will not raise my girls in a world where travelling home at night is deemed “risky” behaviour. Women have the right to move freely in this country. Freedom is a right not a privilege. — PatriciaKarvelas (@PatsKarvelas) June 14, 2018 Report
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews wrote on social media: "In a few days, women across Melbourne will hold a vigil in Princes Park for the life of Eurydice Dixon.
"They will do so firm in the knowledge that Eurydice died because of her attacker's decisions - not because of her own. They're right. And we need to accept that fact, too."
An online fundraising page for Ms Dixon's family has received more than A$30,000 (£17,000; $22,000) in donations.
Some footage from one of her last gigs - where she tackled gender equality and feminism - was posted online.
Snoweyedeer on June 15th, 2018 at 12:45 UTC »
She had her fucking iPhone in her hand, she did all the right things a human should do to not get raped and murdered. Melbourne is so busy, my kids have played in that park. But here we fucking are, because some little scumbag asshole rapist couldn’t fucking accept no
DorcasTheCat on June 15th, 2018 at 11:08 UTC »
Someone wrote today on Twitter “when young men are tragically killed in one punch attacks an entire city has its nightlife shut down indefinitely. When a young woman is brutally raped and murdered women are told to ‘take responsibility for their own safety’”.
This.
Why should I have to worry about what I wear, where I walk, what man is out there watching me, what man is a potential attacker.
Do the men on here walk around holding their keys like a weapon? Do the men phone the friends as soon as they are home to let them know they made is home safely? Are the men judged on what they are wearing if they are attacked at the pub?
Gah.
Edit: words are good
AngelicWooGirl on June 15th, 2018 at 05:21 UTC »
This post perfectly encapsulates the frustration many women feel about receiving advice on how to avoid being raped and killed.
“Women, if you want to be safe, stay at home,” the post begins. “Except that you are more likely to be killed at home by someone who claims they love you, so don’t stay at home. “Make sure you don’t have a boyfriend because he's the most likely person to kill you, but don’t go out without your boyfriend because you need someone to protect you.
“Don’t show too much skin or laugh too loud or dance too much but come on love give us a smile.
“Carry your keys and your phone at all times and make sure you run far enough to burn off all those calories but don’t do it in public and for God’s sake don’t run in shorts, that’s just asking for trouble.
“Public transport is dangerous, but so are taxis and walking and driving on your own and did I mention that staying at home is really risky, so don’t do any of those things OK?
“Men, just carry on as you were, this is not your problem OK?”