In Spite Of Murderous Custody Battle, Girl Is "Happy"

In October 2007, Michelle Malakov, then four years old, saw her father gunned down as she was being taken to her mother for a supervised visit. What unraveled was a plot to gain custody of Michelle; her mother Mazoltuv Borukhova was found guilty of killing her estranged husband (along with a relative, who carried out the actual murder) on Tuesday. These days, 6-year-old Michelle is living her father's brother Gavriel Malakov, his wife and son. Her uncle tells the Daily News, "She's a happy girl, she really is. Very sweet kid. Just like other kids." He also says that they don't discuss the murder with her. While Borukhova plans to appeal, the News says that her parental rights will probably be terminated. Michelle's law guardian thinks her uncle and aunt are "exceptional parents": "If anybody is to adopt, it is them, and that's who I am going to support wholeheartedly. She's totally assimilated into the family."