With her murder trial under way, Penn student Irina Malinovskaya could find out soon whether she will be freed, imprisoned or possibly deported to her native Russia.
Her trial on first-degree murder charges began last week with jury selection, which lasted two days. The State of Delaware is now prosecuting the case, and the jury is listening to testimony.
"The state is in the midst of its case, and then the defense will put on their case," said Lori Sitler, a spokeswoman for the New Castle, Del., Department of Justice.
Malinovskaya, a Wharton senior, has been charged with bludgeoning Temple pharmacology student Irina Zlotnikov to death in the New Castle, Del., apartment of Zlotnikov's boyfriend on December 23, 2004.
The boyfriend, Robert Bondar, was previously dating Malinovskaya.
Sitler said that it would be up to Malinovskaya's attorneys whether Malinovskaya would take the stand.
"She would be called to the stand by her own attorney," Sitler said.
Eugene Maurer, one of Malinovskaya's lawyers, could not be reached for comment by press time.
Other friends and family of Malinovskaya will be called to testify as character witnesses in her defense, according to a Penn student who is friends with Malinovskaya.
Judge James Vaughn is presiding over the trial at the New Castle County Superior Court in Wilmington, Del.
Malinovskaya has been held at the Baylor Women's Correctional Institution in New Castle County since her arrest.
Scheduled to graduate from Wharton around the time of her arrest, Malinovskaya is still a Penn student.
"Malinovskaya's status has not changed since her incarceration," University spokeswoman Phyllis Holtzman said.
However, Holtzman added, Malinovskaya is not currently enrolled in classes and has not received her degree.
A native of Russia, Malinovskaya was studying in the United States on a student visa, which has since expired.
Maurer said last month that Malinovskaya is considered a flight risk, and her bail is set at $10 million.
