Video related to this article is available below.Issue date: 9/28/07 Section: News
Student Murder Trial: Prosecution rests case against Malinovskaya
Defense gets chance to prove defendant's innocence despite pattern of jealousy
Jon Meza
The prosecution rested its case yesterday, finishing its portrayal of Wharton undergraduate Irina Malinovskaya as a jealous woman whose obsession drove her to the murder of her ex-lover's then-girlfriend, Irina Zlotnikov, in 2004.
Jurors also saw the defense's side for the first time yesterday afternoon, hearing expert testimony that the forensic evidence should absolve of her of the crime.
Similar to the last two trials, the prosecution spent the last two weeks detailing desperate e-mails and surprise visits from Malinovskaya to her ex-boyfriend, Robert Bondar, in the months after Bondar broke up with her.
Several eyewitnesses have also placed Malinovskaya outside of Bondar's apartment where Zlotnikov was killed the morning of the murder.
But the state, which has already suffered two hung juries, did change its tactics somewhat, most notably by bringing the jury to the crime scene Wednesday to give context to the dozens of hours of testimony they have heard thus far.
Prosecutors finished their case yesterday by calling two New Castle County detectives. The first, Anthony DiNardo, testified that he found a claw hammer in the accused's apartment, which is consistent with the medical examiner's analysis that Zlotnikov was bludgeoned to death with a blunt object.
Under cross-examination from defense attorney Joe Hurley, DiNardo admitted, however, that no bodily fluid or residue was found on Malinovskaya's hammer.
Detective Joseph Szczerba also testified that he discovered several lists written by Malinovskaya, including one found in her apartment that detailed reasons why she did not commit the murder, implying that Malinovskaya was planning to use the list to lie to police.
In the afternoon, the focus shifted to the defense, which called two forensic experts to show that it was highly unlikely that Malinovskaya was inside Bondar's apartment at the time of the murder.
DNA examiner Charity Holland compared the DNA from the hair Zlotnikov was found clutching to blood stains from Bondar, Zlotnikov and Malinovskaya and concluded that none of the three were a match.
Jurors also saw the defense's side for the first time yesterday afternoon, hearing expert testimony that the forensic evidence should absolve of her of the crime.
Similar to the last two trials, the prosecution spent the last two weeks detailing desperate e-mails and surprise visits from Malinovskaya to her ex-boyfriend, Robert Bondar, in the months after Bondar broke up with her.
Several eyewitnesses have also placed Malinovskaya outside of Bondar's apartment where Zlotnikov was killed the morning of the murder.
But the state, which has already suffered two hung juries, did change its tactics somewhat, most notably by bringing the jury to the crime scene Wednesday to give context to the dozens of hours of testimony they have heard thus far.
Prosecutors finished their case yesterday by calling two New Castle County detectives. The first, Anthony DiNardo, testified that he found a claw hammer in the accused's apartment, which is consistent with the medical examiner's analysis that Zlotnikov was bludgeoned to death with a blunt object.
Under cross-examination from defense attorney Joe Hurley, DiNardo admitted, however, that no bodily fluid or residue was found on Malinovskaya's hammer.
Detective Joseph Szczerba also testified that he discovered several lists written by Malinovskaya, including one found in her apartment that detailed reasons why she did not commit the murder, implying that Malinovskaya was planning to use the list to lie to police.
In the afternoon, the focus shifted to the defense, which called two forensic experts to show that it was highly unlikely that Malinovskaya was inside Bondar's apartment at the time of the murder.
DNA examiner Charity Holland compared the DNA from the hair Zlotnikov was found clutching to blood stains from Bondar, Zlotnikov and Malinovskaya and concluded that none of the three were a match.
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