‘And Now She’s Dead.’ Series and the Femicide of Marijke Meiresonne

The new series “And Now She’s Dead.”, created by Phara de Aguirre and Nahid Shaikh, has resonated deeply with audiences, particularly in light of a personal tragedy experienced by de Aguirre. The series explores themes of violence against women, and its impact was heightened when de Aguirre discovered her niece, Marijke Meiresonne, was the victim of a femicide in Zwijndrecht, Belgium.

Personal Connection to a Real-Life Tragedy

Phara de Aguirre, 64, shared her shock and grief after learning that her niece, Marijke Meiresonne, was the woman murdered in Zwijndrecht. De Aguirre recounted hearing reports of the murder on the radio throughout the day, only realizing the victim was family when she received a message in the evening according to HLN.

The Series and its Impact

“And Now She’s Dead.” is described as a powerful and impactful series, a “sledgehammer” of a production as reported by De Morgen. The series’ exploration of violence against women took on a new layer of meaning for de Aguirre following the death of her niece. The initial reports of the murder in Zwijndrecht surfaced approximately two years ago, when a woman was found seriously injured as noted by Humo.

Femicide in Belgium

The case highlights the ongoing issue of femicide, the intentional killing of women due to the fact that of their gender. The tragedy underscores the importance of raising awareness and addressing violence against women.