Student Murder Trial: Prosecutors highlight possible obsession

WILMINGTON, Del. - Prosecutors showed that Wharton undergraduate Irina Malinovskaya had spyware on her computer and presented DNA analyses of human and animal hair, but it's unclear how strongly that evidence links Malinovskaya to the December 2004 murder of Irina Zlotnikov.

In court yesterday, the prosecution asserted that Malinovskaya - who is facing her second retrial for allegedly bludgeoning Zlotnikov to death - was obsessed with Robert Bondar, Malinovskaya's ex-lover and Zlotnikov's boyfriend at the time of her death.

But despite the spyware on Malinovskaya's computer and an e-mail to a friend inquiring about using the program to spy on someone else, Malinovskaya never attempted to install spyware on Bondar's computer, computer-forensics examiner Steve Bunting testified.

Still, prosecutors pointed to other evidence from Malinovskaya's computer as proof of her obsession: a schedule of courses she thought Bondar could have been taking, records that she accessed Bondar's Yahoo! e-mail account and e-mail messages from Malinovskaya to Bondar.

The prosecution highlighted one September 2004 e-mail to Bondar in which Malinovskaya wrote, "Robert, You have formed a mistaken opinion of me. . I was not intentionally spying on you."

Also yesterday, animal-DNA expert Joy Halverson described DNA tests performed on hairs found in the vehicle Malinovskaya rented and drove to Bondar's New Castle, Del. apartment - the scene of the murder - on the night before and day of the crime.

One hair's nuclear DNA profile was consistent with the hair of Bondar's dog, likely revealing an exact match, and eight hairs were also similar to the dog's mitochondrial DNA, although those matches are less precise, Halverson said.

Another hair found in the vehicle is consistent with hair from Bondar's cat, according to mitochondrial DNA testing, Halverson testified.

Additionally, a white human hair was found in Zlotnikov's hand, but Samuel Palenik, a forensic chemical microscopist, said the "hair did not necessarily come from the head or body of the assailant."

Palenik also testified that, according to a report he issued this month, he found seven hairs that matched a fur coat of Zlotnikov's on the victim's body but did not find any similar hairs in Malinovskaya's rental car.

In other DNA analysis, forensic biologist Katherine Cross testified that scrapings under Zlotnikov's fingernails likely belonged to the victim.

Of other evidence she examined - swabbings from Zlotnikov's hip and foot, a beer bottle, a red stain on the bathroom sink, a faucet handle and cigarette butts - no DNA samples provided conclusive links to Malinovskaya, Cross said.

Today, the jury will make a trip to view the site of the crime at Bondar's apartment, and prosecutors will call at least two more witnesses.

Comments (7)

convulsing body of the victim with her winter coat to get rid of the blood and possibly fingerprints left on the corpse. The murderer took the white coat and the murder weapon and left the apartment early in the morning to get rid off the evidence on his way to work. - how do you know this much detail? Is the DP doing this bad of a job of covering this case that this info never gets reported? Please would one of Malinovskaya's friends that posts here explain the evidence that exists to support claims such as this and where this information is coming from.

This case seems ridiculous. The physical evidence disproves guilt, the defendant reacted appropriately to a lying, cheating detective, and now the prosecution rolls out "possible obsession" for a motive. The prosecuting lawyers are obviously all nerds who lack experience with intense emotions like sexual jealousy because it's not in their repetoire. Things must be very boring down in Wilmington if you're not making money litigating corporate governance issues (of which Delaware is the capital).

A Polish cop interviewing a Russian gal. Maybe something was lost in the translation. She is kind of hot. Russian gals are nuts you have to watch out for them, never turn your back.

Please carefully read the quote below: �?Palenik also testified that, according to a report he issued this month, he found seven hairs that matched a fur coat of Zlotnikov's on the victim's body but did not find any similar hairs in Malinovskaya's rental car.�? Clearly, the murderer covered the convulsing body of the victim with her winter coat to get rid of the blood and possibly fingerprints left on the corpse. The murderer took the white coat and the murder weapon and left the apartment early in the morning to get rid off the evidence on his way to work. Nobody saw Malinovskaya with a winter coat or a weapon in her hands. Malinovskaya didn�?t see anyone entering or exiting Bondar�?s apartment. Prosecution presented a great evidence Good job, guys!! Now they only need to figure out who the real murderer is. It goes without saying that Malinovskaya is not the one. I just don�?t understand what the hell she is doing at this trial and why she is still in prison.

Malinovskaya is so guilty, it is not even funny. When will Zlotnikov's family finally see justice, and see this ugly, creepy murderer put away where she belongs. Also, when will Bodnar finally get exhonerated as well?

[QUOTE id="860e0f08-91d0-4396-aa05-cf954d256fc2"]Malinovskaya is so guilty, it is not even funny. When will Zlotnikov's family finally see justice, and see this ugly, creepy murderer put away where she belongs. Also, when will Bodnar finally get exhonerated as well?[/QUOTE] No doubts you are schizophrenic. Malinovskaya will soon be free. You are totally blind not to see that she is not guilty of this murder�?. unless you are Bondar. I don�?t think Zlotnikov�?s parents will feel relieved if Malinovskaya is wrongfully charged with this murder and the real murderer is free again. Justice will be served for Malinovskaya this time!

[QUOTE id="860e0f08-91d0-4396-aa05-cf954d256fc2"]Malinovskaya is so guilty, it is not even funny. When will Zlotnikov's family finally see justice, and see this ugly, creepy murderer put away where she belongs. Also, when will Bodnar finally get exhonerated as well?[/QUOTE] Bondar - You better enjoy your night sleep at night. You don't have too much time left.... We saw you posted the same bullshit at 1:02 AM today. If you are not Bondar no doubts you are schizophrenic. Malinovskaya will soon be free. You are totally blind not to see that she is not guilty of this murder.... unless you are Bondar. We don't think Zlotnikov's parents will feel relieved if Malinovskaya is wrongfully charged with this murder and the real murderer is off the hook again. Justice will be served for Malinovskaya this time!

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