The Salt Lake Tribune from Salt Lake City, Utah • 39

The Salt Lake Tribune UTAH Friday August 8 1997 D5 Lover Wasn't Insane ien He Killed bJLi3 Li 2)L Saturday August 9th 8191 South 700 East Sandy MEET MARK VANWAGONER FROM KDYL RADIO BETWEEN 2:00 AND 5:00 PM 10:00 AF1 TO 6:00 PM WON THRU FRI SAT 10:00 AM TO 5:00 PM 2021 tL 3300 SOUTH 404-5852 jiat III AMY PU KCilASE i Jury Rejects Idea Woman Pushed Him to the Brink BY STEPHEN HUNT THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE Aleksandr "Alex" Mallaev killed Michelle Turner because the woman pushed him to the brink of insanity during a six-month affair punctuated by repeated breakups Mallaev's defense attorneys contend They argued that their client was guilty of manslaughter not the greater crime of murder because he suffered from extreme emotional distress when he stabbed Turner 18 times last year But prosecutors said Mallaev killed because he was angry immature and unable to deal with troubles that afflict many relationships Thursday a 3rd District Court jury agreed and found Mallaev guilty of first-degree felony murder The 24-year-old man faces up to life in prison when he is sentenced Oct 10 before Judge Pat Brian No one disputed that Mallaev lor said "Michelle was a tease very alive very excited She liked to play" "Who was the cat and who was the mouse?" asked defense attorney Vernice Ah Ching "She was the cat" replied Taylor Prosecutor Richard Shepherd conceded Turner may have gotten "in over her head" by trying to have a relationship with Mallaev while remaining married "Maybe she was too outgoing or too flirtatious" Shepherd said "If she was she didn't deserve to die for it Alex could have said no He could have walked away He didn't have to be involved" Shepherd insisted Mallaev's troubles are not unique "That's why they write country-western songs" Shepherd said The murder occurred Jan 16 1996 on the day Turner had vowed once again to end her relationship with Mallaev But first Turner intended to help Mallaev move into Taylor's Salt Lake County apartment where he could share rent The morning began congenially enough with Turner crawling under the sheets to wrestle playfully with Mallaev Taylor testified But later the two argued over a 1 taM Jen special Sam's oce 1 tl vaA used (XW eM ImlllL 1 The Book Lover's Bookstore 8191 So 700 East (801) 566-0219 Today's Ley it You'll love it! mi 3f S' brj ttJ ail 55-f was the killer Witness- es saw him stab Turner and he confessed to police The four-day trial focused on Mallaev's mental and emotional state and his turbulent relationship with Turner a 22-year-old mother of two young children Turner would break up with Mallaev vowing to be faithful to her hus traffic ticket Turner received Present when Mallaev snapped were Laura Taylor and her 13-year-old daughter Turner and Turner's 6-month-old daughter Taylor said she and her daughter saw Mallaev repeatedly stab Turner with a large kitchen knife He also stabbed himself twice DGJU that's (SJUU for you Alex Mallaev C- 1 1 i i t-t band But inevitably she would call Mallaev again according to testimony Mallaev's friends said the relationship was a "roller coaster" that plunged Mallaev in and out of depression Once hard-working and financially responsible Mallaev was fired from a job because he called in sick to spend time with Turner friends said He went into debt spending most of his money on Turner He also started to drink smoke and drive too fast Laura Taylor who met Mallaev and Turner when they all worked at a Salt Lake convenience store said Turner treated Mallaev like a "doormat" "Michelle had no intention of leaving her husband" Taylor testified "I felt she was stringing Alex along" Turner also liked playing "cat-and-mouse" with her lover Tay- causing superficial wounds When the knife blade broke Mallaev grabbed a paring knife and stabbed Turner again At one point Turner said "Please Alex no more" according to Taylor Mallaev responded by stabbing her in the neck When Taylor dialed 911 Mallaev tore the phone cord from the wall and did the same with a bedroom phone Mallaev then laid his head on Turner's stomach wept and asked Taylor to kill him A Salt Lake County Jail worker testified Mallaev was tearful and repeatedly asked for the death penalty Mallaev spent a week in a suicide watch cell at the jail then months on the mental-health wing At one point he was treated at the Utah State Hospital During his trial Mallaev who did not testify stared constantly down into his lap LnjJTLj -iSiS fef -w- --w 4 ONE SIMPLE PLAY ONE BIG JAZZ VICTORY 1 wri 9km wii'a 1 i -W inn ninn icr 1 S2HH3MEI Saturday Hbruary 7 IW7 i Lj Top Stone la Hvt- Lit Cia Hw ttijc Fiiuty SVolM INSKiHl RhStARCHIIN (TAHS flRASSiC JtvKQs CUMLNOIO A lit AD BY CHRISmMHt SMITH THtSALTIAKtTKIBlNK JENSEN- Dui a hall jy pupcinl ttilh tuprmurket-UMokl Iiftnnyt ifcnuttiur ughting uiiipk hrdtJtiiv 1uly HyuiK l)tntiir IX) IVy hlu UHh a UtHMamrv hew the late prchuhxx ntyMrn hemy wived J- ir nmtt Here are just a few examples of the savings: Cotes Mum Aim thirr i icttns ikt ikuli it it fft-H 99 99 999 799 3 SAVE $150 Natuzzl Genuine Leather Sofa Rog 1149 99 Matching pieces also on sale 201-4551 1-9 SAVE $100 Berkllne Wallaway Sofa Rug 899 99 Matching pieces also on sale 201 54237 8 V- lti'" its 99 499 99 599 I SAVE $100 Queen Bed Reg 59999 Matching pieces also on sale 812 29005 2 5 SAVE $100 S-Piece Dining Room Rog 69999 604 97315 2 -J 1 I THE TRIBUNE ON THE WEB The full contents of The Tribune's Web edition are available anytime to anyone with access to the Internet simply by connecting with the above Web address Vie Tribune's Web edition Utah OiJine has: A complete offering of world and Utah news updated by 5 a daily Local weather sports traffic oulikxirs and entertainment information Guides to hundreds of sites elsewhere on the Web including online newspapers around the world Comics and an online store with Tribune pnxlucts Access to electronic aichives of 77ie Tribune back to Sept 1 00 1 for a small additional fee) Electronic Meeting Hall where you can post your views on current events And much much more While most of these features are free to non-subscribers of The Tribune those who subscribe to the newspaper receive full access to the Web edition and other selected features Subscribers dIso qualify for tw discounted rates for Internet access through a Utah-based company inQuo Those options are: Unlimited Internet access for $1795 a month with $10 set up fee Users gel complete starter kit with CD-ROM or diskettes help information and a free copy of Microsoft Internet Explorer 301 Live technical viprnl is available between 9 im to 7 pm six days a week Call inQuo al 5W-7I60 for complete details or to sign up go to htip Anbune imiuonet Have your Tnbune account number ready Thirty-hours of Internet access for $1095 1 month also with $10 set-up fee Includes the same starter kit and free software and access to live technical Mipport for the first 2-3 calls it takes to ensure your system is woikmg correctly Call inQuo at 330-7160 for more information or to sign-up If you don't have your Tribune account number call the NAC Circulation Department at 217-200 QUESTIONS? E-mail waniis to diMsllnb com Ot phut between 10 ami 2 pm Monday thnHi(h I ruiay al (Hill )2-17- Call toll free 1-Q88-400-2Q29 today for a Levftz store near you 30 Day Prlc Protection Promise If you see the identical item at a lower price stocked at another local store within 30 days of your Levltz purchase we'll refund the difference In price Getting married? Register today with Levltz National Bridal Gift Service Call toll-free 1-800-002-4590 Visit our web site at SALT LAKE CITY UT 1414 500 West (801)973-2000 Exit 1-15 at 13th South Serving Salt Lake City for 25 years and still going strong! Sale effective August 1 through August 10 1997 unless otherwise noted SjIh oncludtn prior pu'chnnns Special Purchases cloaranca servient end wimniilni Lovili FuMiluro Coiporalion 50 stars and strip's $1295 Buy ysmrs at if Trills HIS Mam Mr-iw VkM V-aknaf afjt eaiipVjajiyief.