Published: 10 April 2021
Last updated: 4 March 2024
Alleged victims of accused sex abuser Malka Leifer to be cross-examined about mother, lawyer says (Guardian)
The alleged victims of accused child abuser Malka Leifer will be cross-examined about their relationship with their mother when they give evidence at a court hearing in relation to the 74 counts of child sex abuse levelled against the former principal of a Melbourne ultra-Orthodox Jewish girls school.
On Friday morning, Leifer appeared before the Melbourne magistrates court via video link for a committal mention, six weeks after her extradition from Israel, where she abruptly moved amid allegations of child sexual abuse in 2008.
Leifer looked downward for most of the hearing, only speaking once to answer “yes” when asked if she could see the court proceedings on the video link – a question she did not respond to during her previous court appearance.
Prosecutor Holly Baxter said she would prefer the five-day committal hearing set for September be conducted in-person, as the sisters want to give evidence against Leifer in person, as opposed to remotely.
Leifer accusers set to attend court in person to give evidence (SMH/Age)
Three sisters who allege they were sexually abused by Malka Leifer are set to give evidence in person in court later this year rather than appear via video links.
As Ms Leifer faced Melbourne Magistrates Court for the second time since her extradition from Israel in January, the court heard it was the preference of sisters Elly Sapper, Dassi Erlich and Nicole Meyer to be questioned in person in the hearing that determines whether the former principal stands trial.
But the cross-examination of the three women could feature questions “about what was happening at home with the complainants” at the time of the alleged abuse, defence lawyer Tony Hargreaves told the court.
Mr Hargreaves said Ms Leifer’s barrister, Ian Hill, QC, might pursue that line of questioning but if he did so, he would “ensure it is done properly”.
The three sisters will be among 10 witnesses called in the five-day committal hearing set to start on September 13. That hearing will determine whether Ms Leifer stands trial in a higher court.
Malka Leifer's lawyers say they may probe home life of accusers in child sex offences court case (ABC)
Lawyers for Malka Leifer, the former ultra-Orthodox school principal accused of dozens of child sex offences, have said the "home life" of her alleged victims may be probed, as they seek to test the evidence against her.
The allegations have been levelled against the 54-year-old by three sisters — Dassi Erlich, Nicole Meyer and Elly Sapper — who attended the Adass Israel School in Elsternwick while Ms Leifer was headmistress.
Ms Leifer has long maintained her innocence.
Today the Melbourne Magistrates' Court heard that 10 witnesses will be called to test the evidence against Ms Leifer.
Illustration: Court sketch of Leifer (Mollie McPherson)
