New York Local News

NEW YORK (CBS) ― Prosecutors on Friday revealed the charges against the Queens doctor accused of killing her ex-husband during a bitter custody battle, a story CBS 2 HD broke Thursday night.

Showing no emotion in the courtroom, Dr. Mazeltuv Borukhova pleaded not guilty to hiring a hitman to kill her estranged husband, but police say the motive for this senseless killing was cold blooded revenge, and they have a mountain of evidence to prove it.

Saying nothing as she was escorted by detectives, Borukhova made her way to the courthouse to face a judge.

She's charged with hiring a hitman to kill her estranged husband, Daniel Malakov. The brutal murder took place in a Queens playground right in front of the couple's 4-year-old daughter.

Only CBS 2 HD was there Thursday when Borukhova was picked up by police.

When asked if she paid someone to murder your husband, Borukhova said, "No." When asked is she was shocked by the turn of events, she said, "Absolutely."

On Friday in court the prosecutor called Borukhova a woman out for revenge, saying she hired her uncle, Mikhail Mallayev, to murder her husband because Malakov he had just been awarded full custody of their daughter.

He then asked the judge to deny bail. The judge agreed.

The defense was quick to say the case is pure speculation and there is no evidence.

Malakov family members were happy with the judge's ruling.

"Judge made a very just decision, no bail, no custody back to Mazeltov regarding the child, basically no to everything," brother Gavriel Malakov said. "She stays in jail until trial."

At a news conference held after the arraignment District Attorney Richard Brown spoke about the alleged payment Borukhova made to the gunman.

"After they met at Dr. Borukhova's medical office, and finally Mr. Mallayev deposited the sum of $19,800 in 10 different bank accounts," Brown said.

It allegedly took just under $20,000 to take the life of one man, and change the lives of so many others.

"I wanted to ask her why you destroy everything. Why you destroy your life? Why you destroy the girl's life? Why you destroyed my son's life?" father Khaika Malakov said.

Borukhova was remanded to Rikers Island, the same jail which houses the alleged shooter police say she hired.

Gavril Malakov had suspected her from the start. After learning of her arrest, he had this to say to Borukhova: "I cannot believe you think America is so stupid, so dumb that nobody is ever going to get caught."

"I am happy because the killer who ordered it is in jail," added Khaika Malakov.

In November, Borukhova told CBS 2 HD, "Believe it or not, I do understand my in-law's anger. They just lost a son who was 34 years old and they have to blame somebody and I'm the easy target."

Last month, Brown said there were 65 calls made between Mallayev and Borukhova before the murder. After the murder however, no calls were made between the two.

After Mallayev's arrest, detectives served warrants at Borukhova's apartment, her office, and two of her sisters' apartments, removing computers and videos from each location.

Borukhova described Malakov's final moments to CBS 2 HD during her November interview.

"I was holding Michelle in my arms and I was swinging with her and he was just next to me," Borukhova said.

She then said without warning, a man dressed in black walked up to the dentist and pumped two bullets into his chest. Borukhova, a doctor herself, told CBS 2 HD she whisked her daughter to safety and then tried in vain to save Malakov.

"I went back to help Daniel, I intubated him, I did chest compressions before EMS arrived and tried to help him," said Borukhova. "This is worse than a nightmare, because you wake up, and that nightmare is your reality."

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