Editorial | Two chances are plenty

Nearly two years ago, Irina Zlotnikov was found dead in the apartment of her then-boyfriend, Robert Bondar.

And for the last two years, Delaware district attorneys have been trying to connect Wharton undergraduate Irina Malinovskaya to the murder.

Last week, Judge John Babiarz declared a mistrial after jurors were deadlocked, 6-6, while trying to reach a verdict. The decision came in the wake of last semester's similar outcome, when the case ended in an 11-1 hung jury in favor of acquittal.

At this point, enough is enough; after two mistrials, they've had their chance.

Prosecutors have made their case twice, and neither time was it convincing enough to convict Malinovskaya. Yet, with little change in the situation, prosecutors have stated their intent to retry the case again, if there is not a plea.

It's doubtful the third time will be a charm.

Though every crime deserves to see justice, two mistrials ought to send a clear message: It's time to spend precious state resources on other cases that have yet to reach court. There are many other worthy cases that wouldn't likely require so much time, energy and money. And, in the meantime, Malinovskaya has been kept in holding and in limbo, waiting to discover her fate.

The trial has been rife with emotion - both from Malinovskaya and parties' parents. Yet another trial would only serve to bring up these painful emotions once again, with little purpose. Guilty or not, it's extremely unlikely that a third trial would yield a different result. Therefore, to allow all the parties involved to move on with their lives, prosecutors should give it a rest.

No murder should go unpunished, but retrials can't go on forever. After two years, it's the time to bring this tragic story to a close.

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