A hearing for a Wharton student charged with the murder of a Temple graduate student has been postponed to next Wednesday due to a scheduling conflict. It was originally scheduled for today.
Irina Malinovskaya is charged with the first-degree murder of Irina Zlotnikov, who was found dead on Dec. 23 in her boyfriend's New Castle, Del., home.
Zlotnikov, who was dating Malinovskaya's ex-boyfriend, was allegedly beaten to death with a blunt object.
Malinovskaya is being held at the Baylor Women's Correctional Institution in New Castle with bail set at $10 million. Her trial is scheduled to begin Jan. 24.
The motion for the hearing was filed by Malinovskaya's lawyer, Eugene Maurer, several months ago. Its purpose is to keep certain pieces of evidence out of court during the trial.
According to Mary Burnell, one of Malinovskaya's lawyers, the evidence in question includes certain statements the defendant might have made right after her arrest.
Burnell did not disclose the exact nature of those statements.
The defense will argue that the statements were not made voluntarily and that using those statements against the defendant will be a violation of her constitutional rights.
Regardless of the outcome of the hearing, the state will begin its prosecution in January.
Malinovskaya is also charged with second-degree burglary, possession of a weapon and theft.
The finance and management concentrator was scheduled to graduate last December. Though she was not able to complete the required credits, she still maintains her status as a student at Penn. However, the native of Rostov-on-Don, Russia, does not have a valid student visa since she is not actively enrolled in any classes.
Burnell said that the 23-year-old is doing "reasonably well."
Malinovskaya and her parents -- who will be flying in from Russia -- will be present at the hearing.
