10/10/2013
FYE Trials in Law
Second Essay
The Act of Vengeance
This simple quote by Edward Counsel sums up the true meaning behind the act of revenge “revenge is but a small circle”. This also seems to be related to the popular saying “what goes around comes around”. Revenge is defined as the action of inflicting hurt or harm on someone for an injury or wrong suffered at his or her hands. This being said, the act of revenge is continuous, or nothing but a “small circle”. Janet Malcolm’s’ book Iphigenia in Forest Hills illustrates just what revenge can entail when someone has a certain vengeance on something or someone in particular. Throughout history, a plethora of cases brought forth often have to deal with the topic of vengeance. Is vengeance on a person acceptable in certain circumstances, such as a woman’s child being taken away from her? In Malcolm’s book this is exactly the case. As well as this vengeance, another interesting topic is brought forth within the book regarding bias in the judicial system. Many believe that bias still exists within a courtroom today. Is it legitimate for a judge to put their emotions into a case or is it appropriate for the judge to act on behalf of a victim? These are component to explore within the case in order to make Janet Malcolm’s’ book informative and interesting. The setting of the book takes place in a Bukharin Jewish community located in Forest Hills, Queens. This case captured media attention due to the area in which it took place and the underlying elements of case. A woman, Mozoltuv Barukhova is accused of hiring a hit man (her cousin) to kill her estranged husband, Daniel Malakav. This accusation become evident as the case unfolds and more details are inquired. This homicide takes place just a short time after a judge appoints temporary custody of Michelle, the couples’ four-year-old daughter, to the father who is the now perished Daniel Malakav. Kind of suspicious is it not? Malcolm