A man has been charged with allegedly spray painting lewd graffiti on the memorial site of Eurydice Dixon, just hours before the murdered comedian’s vigil.
The 31-year-old man was arrested Thursday morning by Melbourne North Crime Investigation Unit detectives after a search warrant was issued.
The Bulleen man has been charged with criminal damage, offensive behaviour and making offensive graffiti.
He is scheduled to appear in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on August 10 after being granted bail.
A man has been charged over defacing a memorial for Eurydice Dixon, spray painting it with lewd markings (pictured are fire crews removing the markings)
‘Our family is shattered by such a senseless loss of a beautiful young life. Words are useless,’ one woman wrote following the death of Euryrice Dixon (pictured)
Police patrolling Princes Park in the inner Melbourne suburb of Carlton North discovered the vandalism at 3.50am on June 18.
Fire crews removed the 25-metre offensive markings next to the floral memorial after they were found.
Council workers then covered up the remnants of the disgraceful graffiti with plastic sheets, as organisers of the vigil expressed their disgust.
A huge crowd, reportedly including up to 10,000 people, gathered at Princes Park to pay tribute to the 22-year-old.
They spent a sombre 20 minutes in silence with the lights on the field switched off, illuminating candles that many had brought.
Eurydice was on her way home from a comedy gig when she was allegedly raped and murdered in Princes Park
The memorial was set up in the aftermath of the alleged rape and murder of Ms Dixon, 22, who was killed while walking home on June 12.
‘A number of exhibits have been seized at the scene and the Dog Squad has been through the area,’ A Victoria Police spokesman said at the time the graffiti was found.
‘Police will ensure the markings are removed as soon as possible and the investigation is ongoing.’
Organisers of the vigil – scheduled for Monday evening to remember Ms Dixon and ‘reclaim’ the park – expressed outrage over the act of vandalism.
Police patrolling Princes Park in the inner Melbourne suburb of Carlton North discovered the vandalism at 3.50am on June 18
Shocked mourners took to the vigil’s Facebook page, where over 30,000 have responded to the event, to express their anger
‘There’s no words to describe how I feel about what’s happened overnight, I’m not even sure that they exist,’ said organiser Megan Bridger-Darling on the Today show.
‘There is a level of anger and furiosity in this city already. And for this to happen, on the day of her memorial, is absolutely galling and insulting and deeply, deeply offensive.’
Victorian senator Derryn Hinch described the lewd markings as ‘obscene on so many different levels’.
‘Whoever did it, I hope they are found, identified, caught, charged and sent to jail. I really feel that,’ he told Sunrise.
Others took to the vigil’s Facebook page, where over 30,000 have responded to the event, to express their anger.
Pictured are firefighters cleaning up the floral memorial after it was vandalised
Council workers cover up graffiti painted at the memorial site of murdered Melbourne comedian Eurydice Dixon
‘A pathetic and immature attempt to spoil Eurydice’s memory has been made at the site of tonight’s vigil,’ wrote one woman.
‘Emergency crews are working to remove it and succeeding, and the Premier is in meetings with Victoria Police ensuring provisions of extra security and lighting for tonight.’
‘Like the spineless vandals themselves, this act is beneath notice for me today. Today is about Eurydice.’
A fundraising campaign to help Ms Dixon’s heartbroken family has raised more than $63,000 within four days.
Tributes continue to flow for comedian Eurydice Dixon (pictured) after her body was found in a Melbourne park
The aspiring comedian was on her way home from a gig when she was allegedly raped and murdered.
Ms Dixon’s body was found less than a kilometre away from her home.
Jaymes Todd, 19, has been charged in relation to the alleged murder and sexual assault.
A GoFundMe page was set up by fellow comedian Luka Muller last Wednesday, which has received 10,000 Facebook shares.
The original goal was to raise $1000.
‘I did not know Eurydice well, but was friends with her through the comedy scene. These funds are being raised for the family of the victim, who I have had contact with,’ Mr Muller wrote on the page.
A candlelight vigil was held at Princes Park in Carlton North was held to remember Eurydice Dixon (pictured)
‘I understand that Eurydice’s father wishes to donate a large portion of the funds to charities that Eurydice supported.’
The page has been since edited to say that her family wishes the keep the campaign open for several more days.
Ms Dixon’s father Jeremy Dixon told Daily Mail Australia on Saturday that her immediate family are not engaging in public right now.
‘We do however much appreciate the community support and the positive coverage,’ he said.
Fellow comedians and friends who knew Eurydice also paid their tributes on the fundraising page.
Eurydice Dixon (pictured) was an aspiring comedian until her life was tragically cut short
‘As an aspiring comedian. I understand that this terrible sickening crime could have happened to any one of us,’ one man commented.
Another woman added: ‘Our family is shattered by such a senseless loss of a beautiful young life. Words are useless.’
Police and charity counsellors were at Princes Park on Sunday to talk to the public about the tragedy.
Rival football teams who played nearby held a moment’s silence around flowers and tributes that have built up at the site where Ms Dixon was found.
The City of Melbourne, state government and police met to review safety measures in the park and how they can be improved to avoid a similar tragedy happening again.
Football teams have held a minute’s silence around flowers and tributes that have built up at the Princes Park site where Ms Dixon was found
Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.