Court can not decide upon love triangle case involving three students from Russia

A jury has been unable to decide whether a former University of Pennsylvania student killed a rival in a love triangle involving three students from Russia.

Photo: Court can not decide upon love triangle case involving three students from Russia

On its 11th day of deliberations, a New Castle County Superior Court jury said Thursday that it was deadlocked in the trial of Irina Malinovskaya.

Eight members of the jury favored a guilty verdict for first-degree murder, and four members favored acquittal. The jury deadlocked 10-2 in favor of guilty verdicts on the lesser charge of second-degree murder, as well as a weapons charge.

The only consensus they could reach was that Malinovskaya was guilty of one count of tampering with physical evidence.

After polling the jurors to determine if further deliberations might be fruitful, Superior Court President Judge James Vaughn Jr. announced a mistrial.

Malinovskaya, 25, was accused of beating to death Irina Zlotnikov on Dec. 23, 2004, in the apartment of Robert Bondar, Malinovskaya's ex-lover.

Malinovskaya's first murder trial ended after two days of jury deliberations that resulted in an 11 to 1 vote for acquittal. The jury in her second trial deliberated six days before deadlocking 6-6.

Prosecutors have not said whether they will attempt to try Malinovskaya a fourth time.