Slain Dentist Murder Trial Goes to the Defense

Nearly a year and a half after a dentist was gunned down in a Queens playground while handing off his young daughter to his estranged wife, the prosecution has rested their case. Daniel Malakov had been embroiled in a bitter custody dispute with his wife Mazoltuv Borukhova, and eventually the Queens DA's office charged her with murder and conspiracy, saying she hired a relative to kill her husband.

A teacher had testified seeing a stocky man fire at Malakov, later identifying the shooter as Borukhova's uncle by marriage, Mikhail Mallayev. Mallayev's prints were found on a homemade silencer left a the scene. The prosecution also showed video of the child being handed off to Malakov (who won custody of their daughter) with Borkukhova vowing that she'd be back with her soon, while police officers said Borukhova and her relatives "stalked" them after Malakov's murder and that Borukhova waited to get her story together before speaking to them.

Prosecutors say that Borukhova paid her uncle $20,000 in cash for the killing; Mallayev was in debt for $2.5 million. Yesterday, a medical examiner said that Malakov was shot in the back and died "within a period of minutes" (Borukhova was seen by witnesses giving CPR to him). The defense is expected to present its case today.