Accused dating app murderer Jamie Lee Dolheguy assessed for defence of mental impairment
A troubled teen who allegedly murdered an Indian student she met on a dating app is being assessed for the defence of mental impairment, a court has heard.
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A troubled teen who allegedly murdered a young man she met on a dating app is being assessed for the defence of mental impairment, a court has heard.
Jamie Lee Dolheguy, 19, appeared via video link in the Melbourne Magistrates Court today charged over a savage attack on Maulin Rathod at her Sunbury home on July 23.
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Mr Rathod, 25, an Indian accounting student, died in hospital soon after being found with life-threatening injuries at Ms Dolheguy’s Ross Court property about 9pm.
Ms Dolheguy sat with her head bowed as her lawyer Greg Thomas told the court they were organising for her to undergo a forensic psychologist assessment.
He said police have had a long-term relationship with Ms Dolheguy and are aware of the difficulties she has faced over the years.
Magistrate Charlie Rozencwajg said it would be a "narrow issue" whether the case would proceed as a defence of mental impairment or if she is fit for trial.
"It was obvious from day one this was going to be all about psychiatric status," Mr Rozencwajg said.
She is facing four charges: murder, attempted murder, and intentionally and recklessly cause serious injury.
The court heard only the murder charge is likely to proceed, but the prosecution asked to hold off striking out the other charges until they had received a pathology report, expected in three weeks.
Once the video link was disconnected following the short hearing, Mr Rozencwajg raised concerns to Mr Thomas about marks he noticed on the accused's arms.
Mr Thomas said his client was vulnerable and suffered long-term self-harm and psychiatric issues.
The Herald Sun understands the case has raised questions around the level of care Ms Dolheguy was receiving at the time of the alleged onslaught. She was in government housing and had only just started living without a full-time carer.
In a social media post in the weeks before the alleged attack, Ms Dolheguy detailed how “my demon comes out to play” when no one was watching.
“I try and fight her but she just gets stronger,” she wrote. Sources close to Ms Dolheguy have revealed how she suffered “disturbed delusions” and sometimes believed she was a wolf, lashing out and biting people.
It is not known how she allegedly killed Mr Rathod.
Ms Dolheguy will return to court on March 12 for a hearing to determine if she should be committed to stand trial in the Supreme Court.
Five witnesses, including a psychologist who initially found Ms Dolheguy unfit for police interview on her arrest, will be called to give evidence.