The hearing for a Wharton student charged with murder has been delayed once again.
Irina Malinovskaya, 23, has been charged with murdering a Temple University graduate student who was dating her ex-boyfriend.
The hearing, intended to keep some evidence out of the trial, was set to focus on statements Malinovskaya made after her arrest last December.
Mary Burnell, one of Malinovskaya's lawyers, said that those statements were not made voluntarily, and a motion was filed asking that they be suppressed.
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 was apparently beaten to death with a blunt object.
The hearing supposed to begin this morning, which was was originally scheduled for Nov. 2, has been postponed to Nov. 22 at the request of Malinovskaya's lawyer, who had a family emergency.
The first postponement was due to a scheduling conflict on the prosecutor's side.
This is the first time the defense has requested a change, said Mary Burnell, one of the Malinovskaya's lawyers.
Malinovskaya's parents flew in from Russia this week for the hearing but are scheduled to return home this Saturday.
Burnell said that Malinovskaya's parents will try to come back for the hearing but need to make visa arrangements.
Malinovskaya, a native of Rostov-on-Don, Russia does not have a valid student visa, as she is no longer enrolled as a student.
If she were to be released, the federal government would move to deport her, Burnell said.
Malinovskaya has not been suspended by Penn and maintains her status as a student. The finance and management concentrator was scheduled to graduate last December but did not earn the required credits.
Malinovskaya is being held at the Baylor Women's Correctional Institution in New Castle with bail set at $10 million. Her trial date has been set for Jan. 24.
The Daily Pennsylvanian is an independent, student-run newspaper. Please consider making a donation to support the coverage that shapes the University. Your generosity ensures a future of strong journalism at Penn.
DonatePlease note All comments are eligible for publication in The Daily Pennsylvanian.