Maulin Rathod, the young international student from Gujarat, in western India, arrived in Melbourne to pursue a Master’s degree in accounting. The 24-year-old is remembered by friends and family as a kind and hardworking soul who supported himself and worked as a delivery driver.
Jamie Lee Dolheguy, who strangled Mr Rathod with a sex toy cable, was sentenced last week to a minimum of five years and six months in jail.
The court convicted the now 21-year-old of the manslaughter of Mr Rathod. She had met him online through the dating app Plenty of Fish and attacked him at her home in Sunbury in Melbourne in July 2018. According to reports, she wrapped a sex toy cable around his neck and strangled him.
International student Maulin Rathod Source: Hiren Rathod
Maulin sustained a life-threatening injury and was taken to the hospital, where he died.
Maulin’s parents, Hiren and Jagruti Rathod spoke to SBS Gujarati about their only son and about the court case: “We were expecting a maximum jail sentence of 3 to 4 years, but the court has sent her behind bars for more than that".
Whatever she got as punishment won’t give us our son back though. We’ve lost everything and we have accepted the judgment, said Maulin’s father Hiren Rathod.
Maulin’s parents were invited to Melbourne for the court hearing in February 2020.
“We told the court about our life after Maulin’s demise, and the mental struggle to come to terms with the tragic incident," Jagruti said.
"Nothing is worse than losing a child. We have gone through a tough phase of our life and hence asked for harsh punishment for the woman who strangled him. We wish no one ever has to go through this again.”
Jamie Lee Dolheguy (left) arrives to the Supreme Court of Victoria, Melbourne, April 17, 2020. Source: AAP
The couple said they had full faith in the Australian judiciary system. They were promptly notified about the progress of the case after each hearing.
Even on the day of the judgment, the couple joined the hearing from Ahmedabad, in the state of Gujarat through a Zoom meeting.
'A brilliant student' remembered
Hiren and Jagruti visited the Asia Pacific International College in Melbourne, where Maulin was studying for his degree.
“We met his professors at the college, and they remembered him as a brilliant student. We came to know that they offered him a job at the institution once he finished his degree”, said Hiren.
Maulin Rathod went to India to celebrate kite flying festival with his family. Source: Hiren Rathod.
Maulin's last meeting with parents
Maulin went to India in January 2018 to attend a kite-flying festival. It was also a surprise visit to his home and parents.
Remembering those precious moments, his mother Jagruti said: “We had never imagined that he (Maulin) would come over for the kite flying festival. He surprised us and he stayed for almost a month. That was the last time we met him before he flew back to Australia".
He was planning to come again in November after finishing his degree, and then the terrible incident happened in July.
A young man with big dreams
“During his last visit, Maulin told us about his dreams and asked us to wind up our jobs here. He said that we have done so much for him, and now he was capable enough to support us. He wouldn’t let us work anymore”, said Hiren.
Maulin with his parents Source: Hiren Rathod
Life after Maulin
Maulin was their only child and life after his death has become more challenging say the couple.
“We are now lonely in our old age. We miss him, but we’ve accepted the truth. Our son won’t come back but he will remain in our memory and in our hearts forever”, said Jagruti.
“We are also thankful to the Indian community in Australia for their support during the repatriation of Maulin’s body to our home country and during the case”, Hiren said.
