Melbourne, Australia (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.

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