The alleged rape and murder of a young comedian as she walked home at night in Australia has unleashed an outpouring of public grief and anger about violence against women. Eurydice Dixon, 22, was killed just hours after performing a gig in Melbourne’s Highlander bar. In a poignant last text message to her boyfriend she wrote: “I’m almost home safe. HBU? (how about you? )” reported the Age newspaper. Her body was found on a football field in the early hours of Wednesday morning and a man, 19, has been charged after handing himself in to the police. Dixon’s tragic death has evoked memories of the 2012 murder of an Irish woman, Jill Meagher, 29, in an adjacent Melbourne suburb. The violent attack on Meagher, who was also walking home alone after a night out, generated high levels of public sympathy and prompted a peace march of 30,000 people. There have been calls on social media to honour the aspiring comedian, who was known for her passion for women’s rights and social issues, with a similar public gathering.<doc-sep>Comedian Eurydice Dixon was killed as she walked home from a performance in the Australia city of Melbourne. (CNN) — The murder of a 22-year-old Australian comedian has ignited a debate in the country about the safety of women and the right to be able to walk home at night without fear of attack. Eurydice Dixon was raped and killed as she walked home from a performance Tuesday night through a popular park in the inner-city Melbourne suburb of Carlton North. The attack stunned the community not only because it happened in what’s considered a relatively safe city, but because of the police advice that followed. After informing residents there would be 24-hour patrols at Princes Park where Dixon’s body was found, Victoria Police Superintendent David Clayton advised residents to “take responsibility for your own safety.” Some interpreted his words as victim-blaming, that Dixon was somehow at fault for walking home by herself at night. A 19-year-old-man was charged with her rape and murder Thursday. Among tributes to the young comedian there was growing outcry on social media who called for the blame to be placed squarely on her attacker. “When I was a 22-year-old comedian, I constantly walked home from gigs along in the middle of the night because I couldn’t afford the tram fare, let alone taxis,” broadcaster Meshel Laurie said on Twitter. “Should we allow murderous rapists and poverty to ensure we’re locked inside our entire lives?” Bernard Keane, a leading political writer based in Canberra said the “victim blaming” from police was “garbage.” “Men don’t let women be safe anywhere,” he tweeted. It's a tiny consolation about a man's murder of Eurydice Dixon to see the ferocious pushback against the victim-blaming garbage from police and media about "staying safe". Men don't let women be safe anywhere. — Bernard Keane (@BernardKeane) June 14, 2018 Influential Australian feminist writer Clementine Ford said it wasn’t a lack of “situational awareness” that ended the life of Dixon. “It was a person who made a conscious decision to exercise extreme violence against her,” she said. Victoria Police Minister Lisa Neville addressed the outcry in a news conference Friday, saying the role of the police was to ensure people are aware of the risks around them. “Just as it’s touched and hurt our community and the family it also touches our police as well, that’s why they want to make sure women understand the risks while we fight to ensure we have safety within our communities and our homes,” she said. Some of Eurydice Dixon’s set from Highlander last week, recorded by her friend, Paula Ferrari. In it, Eurydice talks about gender equality and feminism. She begins, “I have a bit of a tendency to worry a lot, about things I shouldn’t worry about...” pic.twitter.com/qGJFIfR7ZJ — Tegan Higginbotham (@TeganMH) June 14, 2018 For two days local residents have been laying flowers at Princes Park, where Dixon’s body was found. Victorian State Premier Daniel Andrews said a public vigil would be held at the park on Monday at 5.40 p.m. local time, and those taking part would recognize that Dixon wasn’t to blame. “They will do so in firm 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. We will never change a thing until we do,” he tweeted. 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. — Dan Andrews (@DanielAndrewsMP) June 15, 2018 Jaymes Todd, a 19-year-old man from the north-western suburb of Broadmeadows has been charged with Dixon’s rape and murder He was arrested on Wednesday night after handing himself into authorities after police released images of a man they wanted to speak to about Dixon’s death. Todd appeared in Melbourne Magistrates Court Thursday where it was heard Dixon was killed between 10:30 p.m. on Tuesday and 3:00 a.m. on Wednesday, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) reported. John Riordan, a Victoria Legal Aid lawyer, told court it was Todd’s first time in custody and that he was highly vulnerable due to his young age and autism disorder. The lawyer successfully argued that images of Todd should not be published until more information on his condition was examined. Todd did not apply for bail and was remanded in custody to reappear on October 3, the ABC reported. Dixon’s death and public reaction strongly echoes the horrific rape and murder of Gill Meagher, a 29-year-old Irish woman living in Melbourne who was killed when walking home in the early hours of September 22, 2012. Vigils were held in her honor for many months following her death. It emerged her killer Adrian Ernest Bayley had raped multiple women and had been out of prison on parole.<doc-sep>A young comedian was raped and murdered as she walked home from a gig in Melbourne this week, causing an outpouring of grief from friends and peers. The body of Australian comic Eurydice Dixon, 22, was discovered at a football field early on Wednesday morning. She had performed a gig hours earlier at a bar in the city. Police have charged 19-year-old Jaymes Todd from Broadmeadows, a Melbourne suburb, on suspicion of one count of rape and one count of murder. A friend of Ms Dixon revealed the final message she sent to him minutes before being attacked. Tony Magnuson told The Age he received a message from Ms Dixon shortly after midnight, which read: "I'm almost home safe, HBU [how about you]?" Fans and members of Melbourne's comedy community shared their grief at Ms Dixon's death on Twitter. World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. 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Australian comedian Eurydice Dixon was walking home after a show when she was raped and killed in a park. Famous People That Went Missing and Were Never Found Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, sweepstakes, and more! An Australian comedian was raped and murdered on her way home after a show in Melbourne last week, and a teenager has been charged for the killing. Eurydice Dixon, 22, was found by a passerby in a field at the Princes Park sporting complex early Wednesday morning, according to ABC.net.au. It was a walk home she'd made many times before. Paramedics were called to the scene but Dixon could not be revived. Police think she was killed sometime between 10:30 p.m. Tuesday and 3 a.m. Wednesday. Dixon had just performed at the Highlander Bar on Tuesday before she was killed. "We are deeply shocked and saddened by the tragic news of the death of Eurydice Dixon," a post on the bar's Facebook page said. "She was a remarkable, talented, kind, unique and universally loved person and the entire staff are shattered and heartbroken. Our heart goes out to her family, the comedy community and everyone else who knew and loved her. She will be remembered fondly and sadly missed. RIP Eurydice." Police have arrested and charged a man named Jaymes Todd, 19, with the rape and murder, according to the BBC. He turned himself in on Wednesday, after police released pictures of a person of interest. Todd appeared in court on Thursday, and according to ABC.net.au, he sat still and kept his eyes closed for most of the hearing. His lawyer, John Riordan, said Todd was vulnerable in jail because he was young and also was diagnosed with autism. Mourners gathered in Princes Park to mourn Dixon, leaving brightly colored flowers in a circle where she was found, according to The Age in Melbourne. Hundreds gathered Sunday night in silent mourning and lit candles. A makeshift memorial was later vandalized, CNN reported, and it is not clear by whom. The lights are out but over 10,000 people are #lightingtheway with candles for 20 minutes to remember #EurydiceDixon and her life at #melbourne #ReclaimPrincesPark vigil. pic.twitter.com/3QCQCUrt4o — John Englart EAM (@takvera) June 18, 2018 Dixon's last performance was captured on social media. Beautiful, clever, funny Eurydice Dixon at her gig at Highlander last Tuesday. RIP. #eurydicedixon pic.twitter.com/ivcbL2DmSs — Paula Ferrari (@paulaferrari_oz) June 14, 2018 Many other performers expressed sorrow at her passing. 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 I am absolutely shattered to hear of the despicable death of Eurydice Dixon. Our comedy community is like a family & this news is beyond heart breaking. My deepest condolences go to her family and friends. An important and funny voice has been extinguished. Vale Eurydice Dixon Jx pic.twitter.com/aqXAxISePW — Julia Morris (@Ladyjmo) June 14, 2018 [Photo: Facebook]