Candlelight vigil to be held for Eurydice Dixon in park where her body was found

A candlelight vigil for aspiring comedian Eurydice Dixon will be held at the Melbourne field where she was allegedly raped and murdered, in a bid to “reclaim Princes Park” in her honour.

Broadmeadows 19-year-old Jaymes Todd has been charged with her murder and police believe the two had no previous connection.

Friends say Monday evening’s memorial to honour the 22-year-old will help send a message that women deserve to feel safe and have the right to get home safely, and men need to be accountable for their actions.

“Princes Park is a beautiful, community space and it’s about reclaiming that place and acknowledging that women are often put at risk by the behaviour of men and that’s just not good enough,” said Pia Cerveri, who is organising Monday’s candlelight vigil.

“Every woman should have the right to walk through that park or use that space at any time of the day or night without the fear of being raped, murdered of assaulted,” she told The Age.

“They have the right to get home safely. The onus is on men to change their behaviour.”

The vigil will take place at Princes Park on Monday, from 5.30pm to 7.30pm.

Police hold safety talks at Princes Park

Victoria Police will spend Saturday at Princes Park to talk to the public about safety.

Officers will be at the North Carlton reserve from 10am to 2pm today, along with counsellors and support people from the Red Cross and Victorian Council of Churches.

Ms Dixon’s death this week has sparked a public debate about the safety of women.

Ms Dixon reportedly messaged her partner, “I’m almost home safe HBU [how about you]” before she was attacked.

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“Victoria Police would like to reassure the community that they can go about their usual business,” the force said in a statement.

“As police, it is our role to provide people with both reassurance but also tips on how we can all stay safe in our community.”

Premier Daniel Andrews took to social media on Friday to urge women to not change their behaviours.

“Go about your day exactly as you intend, on your terms, because women don’t need to change their behaviour. Men do,” he wrote in a Facebook post.

But Police Minister Lisa Neville and Melbourne Lord Mayor Sally Capp admit they do not always feel safe themselves.

“I want to be able to be safe in my community, I want to be able to walk through the streets, I want to be safe at home and unfortunately that’s not the case,” Ms Neville told reporters.

Todd will reappear in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court in October.

His father Jason Todd told Fairfax his family were in shock and offered Ms Dixon’s family “our deepest condolences”.

– with AAP