Melbourne is haunted by shocking deaths of young women walking at night – so much so that the city’s own female mayor has admitted feeling unsafe.
There has been a huge outpouring of emotion following the killing of talented comedian Eurydice Dixon, 22, as she headed home from a bar on Tuesday night.
The alleged circumstances of her death – raped and brutally murdered while walking home through the city’s Princes Park – have sparked massive public concern.
Even the city’s newly elected Lord Mayor Sally Capp confirmed on Friday that she did not feel safe walking around at ‘all hours of the night’.
‘No (I don’t),’ Ms Capp said. ‘I think the practical outcome of that is no. And it’s going to be difficult to achieve that, really.’
‘Hoping that people use those (safe areas to walk, cycle and drive) is important, but at the end of the day we should all be able to move around our safely.’
Eurydice Dixon, 22, texted her boyfriend to say ‘I’m almost home safe’ moments before she was killed in Melbourne’s Princes Park on Tuesday night, police alleged
Ms Dixon left Highlander Bar in Melbourne’s central business district with her boyfriend of four months Tony Magnuson
Ms Dixon blew a kiss to her boyfriend and began the short journey home – but never made it all the way
Jill Meagher (left), 29, was abducted and killed walking home from the pub in 2012, while Masa Vukotic (right) was stabbed to death in the park in 2015
The details of Ms Dixon’s final moments, as alleged by police, echo the horrifying evening killings of ABC worker Jill Meagher and school student Masa Vukotic in 2012 and 2015.
Like them, Ms Dixon was walking the streets at night when police allege she was savagely attacked by a total stranger.
She had only just said goodbye to her boyfriend and had even messaged her friend saying ‘I’m almost home safe’ before she was allegedly set upon.
Ms Meagher, 29, was walking home from the pub about 1.30am on September 22, 2012, when she was cornered by violent criminal Adrian Ernest Bayley.
Her body was found six days later, about 50km to the north of Melbourne, and the community’s grief was palpable.
Thousands marched the streets to ‘reclaim the night’ – including the then-Victorian premier Denis Napthine.
‘I won’t close with fear, I’ll open up with love,’ a popular sign said.
Three years later, on March 17, 2015, Masa Vukotic, 17, was savagely stabbed to death by Sean Christian Price.
The circumstances were a little different. Ms Vukotic, an aspiring lawyer, was taking an evening walk around the park near her home in Doncaster, in the city’s north, when deranged killer Price came after her, stabbing her 49 times.
He was on bail at the time. Eventually, both Bayley and Price were sentenced to jail terms of more than 30 years.
Jill Meagher’s tragic last moments were captured by shopfront closed circuit TV cameras
A mountain of flowers formed out the front of the store where Jill Meagher was last seen alive
Thousands packed the street (above) for a ‘peace march’ to mark the anniversary of Jill Meagher’s murder
Ms Vukotic’s death led Victoria Police’s then homicide boss to suggest ‘people, particularly females… shouldn’t be alone in parks’.
This week, that message was echoed by Local Superintendent David Clayton on Thursday when he advised: ‘Make sure you have situational awareness, that you’re aware of your surroundings.’
The police statement sparked a social media furore, with a short, outraged post by feminist Jane Gilmore deluging social media feeds.
‘Women, if you want to be safe, stay at home,’ Ms Gilmore wrote. ‘Except that you are more likely to be killed at home by someone who claims they love you, so don’t stay at home …
‘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?’
Well-known in the inner city Melbourne arts community, Ms Dixon (pictured, right) performed to capacity crowds at the Melbourne Comedy Festival in March and April
Ms Dixon left Highlander Bar at 10.30pm and her body was found four hours later at Princes Park
‘We’re so sorry that this world failed you, Eurydice’: A floral tribute left at Princes Park
Police patrol the area near where Ms Dixon’s body was discovered more than 48 hours earlier
In a statement, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews distanced himself from the police safety message controversy.
‘Our message to Victorian women is this. Stay home. Or don’t,’ Mr Andrews wrote on Facebook.
‘Go out with friends at night. Or don’t.
‘Go about your day exactly as you intend, on your terms.’
‘Because women don’t need to change their behaviour.
‘Men do.’
A vigil will be held for Ms Dixon at the park where she died on Monday.
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