Normally on a Friday, I have started the tradition of
#FoodPornFriday. But today I’ve decided not to.
This week in Melbourne, there has been a disturbing and
chilling case of a young woman who mysteriously disappeared off a busy street
(less than 700m from home). Sadly, we woke to the news this morning that her
body was found overnight, and that a man has been arrested and charged with her
abduction, rape and murder.
For me, the thing that hit hard was that it was so close. The
innocent victim, Jill, was a 29 year old with her whole life ahead of her. She
was going home after a few drinks with friends and colleagues, and had probably done that walk
countless times before. She refused an offer from a friend to walk her home
because she thought she was safe.
When the Police released the CCTV footage of her final
sighting (a brief interaction with her now confirmed killer), it was chilling
and upsetting to see. She was clearly uncomfortable being stopped by this man,
and unsure of what to do, she did what most of us has done at one time or
another – called her brother, tried to look busy, and when she thought she was
ok, she kept on walking.
The agony and pain that her family and friends have gone
through this week, not knowing where she was, dealing with the media intrusion –
and now the unimaginable horror to discover that she was so brutally violated.
Now that Jill has been found, her family can begin the grief
process. There is closure to some degree, but so many questions remain
unanswered.
It’s a reminder to us all that we need to be aware of
ourselves and our surrounds at all times, that sadly there are antisocial
people out there with no respect for others.
May Jill now rest in peace; my thoughts are with her family
and friends.
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