A young woman was killed in the early hours of Thursday morning following an arson attack in the home she was housesitting for her brother while he was on his honeymoon.
We are yet to learn her name. We know that she was 27 and from Hoppers Crossing and that before the suspected actions of arsonists in the home in Melbourne, she had her entire life ahead of her.
We know that she raised the alarm to emergency services and that her death is being treated as a homicide, with two people seen pouring accelerate inside the house before it went up in flames.
And we know that this young woman was completely innocent.
We know this not because police directly said as much – a comment since repeated in media headlines — but rather because there is no possible circumstance where a woman killed wouldn’t be innocent.
“This individual is completely innocent and should not have died,” Victoria police detective inspector Chris Murray told reporters.
Police believe the offenders may have targeted the wrong address, “which is nothing short of a tragedy”.
These comments, while hoping to highlight the sheer horror of this attack, also perpetuate the myth that in some cases, women somehow share some responsibility for their own deaths. Such as that she had stayed in a bad relationship, made a poor decision to walk alone at night, that she family had connections to unsavoury characters.
Would the death of a young woman inside the house have been less of a tragedy if she had been in the “right address” at the right time”?
“She’s been subjected to the most appalling, despicable act one could imagine,” the detective said.
She has. And it would have been no less appalling, despicable and unimaginable under any different circumstances.
As Sherele Moody from Femicide Watch said on the use of such language. “Please tell me under what circumstances a woman deserved to be killed?”
Four women have now been killed by violence so far in 2025, according to Sherele’s Femicide Watch. This follow the 101 Australian women killed by violence in 2024.
Detectives from the Arson and Explosives Square are appealing for more information regarding the fatal fire.
If you or someone you know is experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, domestic, family or sexual violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732, text 0458 737 732 or visit 1800RESPECT.org.au for online chat and video call services.
If you are concerned about your behaviour or use of violence, you can contact the Men’s Referral Service on 1300 766 491 or visit http://www.ntv.org.au.
Feeling worried or no good? No shame, no judgement, safe place to yarn. Speak to a 13YARN Crisis Supporter, call 13 92 76. This service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.