An anti-feminist Melbourne blogger admits he defaced a memorial to slain comedian Eurydice Dixon with lewd graffiti in a bid to make a "political statement" and to be on the news.
Andrew Nolch, 29, pleaded guilty on Thursday to criminal damage for painting a 25-metre long penis at the Princes Park memorial in June, days after Ms Dixon was raped and murdered.
Nolch, who hosts a Scientology podcast and holds anti-feminist and anti-vaccine beliefs, wore gloves and switched off his phone that night to avoid police detection.
He did it because he believed feminists and the media had "hijacked" Ms Dixon's death and "turned it into a women's rights issue", a court has heard.
Eurydice Dixon's body was found on a Melbourne soccer field on June 13, 2018. Source: AAP
Defence lawyer Glenn Thexton says Nolch's views are held by "many others" in society.
"His main focus was to make a political statement in respect of what he felt was all men being depicted as bad," Mr Thexton told Melbourne Magistrates Court on Thursday.
Mr Thexton suggested if Nolch had drawn a flower on the grass it would not have had the same impact.
"There's quite a lot of symbolism in what he's drawn on the grass."
But the lawyer's arguments didn't sit well with magistrate Olivia Trumble.
"His anti-feminist beliefs. Where's that come from? What's going on?" she asked.
"I don't find much of that to be very helpful."
Ms Trumble wondered if Nolch was sorry for what he did.
"He's openly stated that he's not remorseful for drawing the graffiti on the grass," Mr Thexton said.
"But he is remorseful for causing offence to Eurydice Dixon's family."
Ms Dixon, 22, was raped and killed as she walked home through the Carlton North park after performing a comedy gig on June 13.
Flowers soon piled up on the field where her body was found and the memorial was visited by thousands.
Nolch defaced the memorial the night before a public vigil was held for Ms Dixon.
Firefighters and council workers worked through the night but could not remove the graffiti so the turf had to be replaced at a cost of nearly $20,000.
Nolch was soon arrested and told police he did it to enrage feminists and do something "funny to make the news".
June 21, 2018: Family and friends farewell Eurydice Dixon. Source: AAP
"He said he wanted Melbourne to wake up with a giant dick in the park," Senior Constable Alistair Macpherson told court.
A bottle of Passion Pop, cigarettes and a basketball magazine were found at the site. Nolch told police the items were to distract police.
Nolch, who has a maintenance business, was ordered to pay more than $19,500 in restitution for the damage.
He will be assessed for a community corrections order.
A man, 19, was charged with Ms Dixon's rape and murder.
