Man charged with alleged murder of Eurydice Dixon
A 19-year-old man has appeared in court charged with the murder of Melbourne comedian Eurydice Dixon.
A 19-year-old man has appeared in court charged with the murder of up-and-coming comedian Eurydice Dixon in a north Melbourne park.
Jaymes Todd handed himself into Broadmeadows Police Station last night after CCTV images of him in Melbourne’s CBD were released by police yesterday.
The Broadmeadows man is accused of killing Ms Dixon, an aspiring comedian, as she walked home from a gig. Her body was found in a park in Carlton North.
He is also charged with one count of rape.
Melbourne’s Magistrate Court was told the Victoria Police investigation into Mr Todd is still ongoing and they were still to complete taking statements from witnesses.
Magistrate Andrew McKenna was also told by Mr Todd’s lawyer John Riordan that Mr Todd has Autism Spectrum Disorder and takes medication.
An attempt to suppress Mr Todd’s name due to his autism, his safety in custody and the potential of distress to a child (Mr Todd’s younger brother) was dismissed by Mr McKenna.
“There could be any juvenile by the name of Todd out there who is a relative of Mr Todd’s,” the magistrate said.
“And this (alleged crime) is an event for which corrections are well experienced and trained for.”
Melbourne’s tight-knit comedy community has rallied around the family of Ms Dixon, with a fundraiser pulling in over $6000 from some of the country’s leading talents after her life was cut tragically short.
Ms Dixon, 22, had performed her one-woman show titled At Home, I Feel Like a Tourist earlier in the evening at the Highlander Bar in Melbourne’s CBD and was walking through a park in Carlton North when she was allegedly attacked and killed.
Star comedians Celia Pacquola, Anne Edmonds and Corey White, along with Melbourne International Comedy Festival director Susan Provan, are among more than 100 people to donate in support of Ms Dixon’s family.
The crowdfunding campaign had a target of $1000 but shot past that in just under two hours.
The Highlander Bar, where Ms Dixon performed at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival earlier this year and on Tuesday before her death, said in a statement staff were deeply shocked and saddened by news of the young comedian’s passing.
“She was a remarkable, talented, kind, unique and universally loved person and the entire staff are shattered and heartbroken,” the bar said in a statement.
“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.”
One comedian who performed with Ms Dixon said the death was hard to comprehend, given she was like everyone else in the community and loved to perform.
“She was always doing nights that openly supported women in comedy and safe spaces,” the comedian told The Australian. “She was shy, but very lovely whenever I engaged with her. She was a well loved part of the community, it’s super devastating for everyone.
“She was just a nice girl who loved to gig...The fact she died coming home from that is the most heartbreaking thing in the world.”
Fellow comedian Ian McCarthy said in a post on Facebook he only met Ms Dixon a handful of times but she was always warm, friendly and a lot of fun to watch perform.
“You can also show your support for women in comedy tonight by checking out the Comedy Women’s Association at the Maori Chief Hotel in South Melbourne or at the Rochester Hotel in Fitzroy,” he said.
“Both are free shows with stellar all female lineups including many of Eurydice’s close friends. Support women in comedy. Support women in general. Be nice to each other.”