AFTER A TEENAGE girl was found dead in a park in Australia, the police had a stark warning for women.

Masa Vukotic (17) was taking a break from study and walking through a reserve near her home in Doncaster when she was stabbed.

Detective Inspector Mick Hughes told ABC radio that the CCTV showed a man running up a street before talking to a witness, and then boarding a bus.

“It is a very brazen attack,” he said of the murder.

Asked about safety, he said:

We have to be cautious, we have to be safe. A lot’s been made of the fact this poor girl was wearing earphones. I don’t think it should be a big issue, people should be allowed to do that.

I suggest to people, particularly females, they shouldn’t be alone in parks. I’m sorry to say that, that is the case, we just need to be a little bit more careful. A little bit more security conscious. And we as a public need to look after each other.

He added:

I don’t think we should live our life in fear.

However, that message has been criticised by those who suggest it puts the focus on the victim’s activity, rather than the possible perpetrator’s.

The White Ribbon Campaign Ireland, which campaigns to end violence against women, said of Det Hughes’ comments:

Even when women tick all they boxes on the notional checklist we seem to think violent men have before they attack, women are told where they should and should not be walking. Masa Vukotic was not killed because she was in a park, she was killed because a man attacked her.

The campaign was set up by Irish man Tom Meagher following the murder of his wife, Jill, in Victoria.

Following Det Hughes’ comments, Assistant Commissioner Stephen Fontana responded on the Victoria Police website, saying he is proud of the work Mick does.

He didn’t respond as clearly as he wanted but I can assure you his number one priority was about protecting the community.That is why, later in the day, he talked about how everyone needs to look after each other.I’m disappointed that some members of our community are so quick to criticise my hardworking members.

He added that “it isn’t the victim’s fault they were killed – of course it wasn’t”.

Charged with murder

A man named Sean Christian Price (31), from Albion, was charged with Vukotic’s murder.

He appeared in court yesterday and was also charged in relation to rape, robbery and assaults. Some of the charges related to offences allegedly committed earlier that same day.

Price was pictured showing his middle finger to photographers.

What do you think of the detective’s comments?

Read: Tom Meagher on Late Late Show to take stand against men’s violence towards women>