Further delay announced in trial of alleged sex abuser Malka Leifer
The former headteacher of a strictly-Orthodox school in Melbourne will face her accusers this month after a years-long campaign
There has been yet another delay in the trial of Malka Leifer, the Australian high school headteacher who was returned to the country last year after fleeing in 2008.
She spent 13 years in Israel after being accused of child sex abuse against numbers of her former pupils.
Ms Leifer, who headed the strictly-Orthodox Adass Israel school in Melbourne, was due to face her accusers in court this week.
Three of the women have waived their right to anonymity and are sisters from the same family: Nicole Meyer, Dassi Erlich and Elly Sapper.
But at pre-trial hearings in Melbourne on Monday, it was announced that the trial has been adjourned until Monday August 22, and will open at the County Court of Victoria.
The planned trial before Judge Mark Gamble is expected to last five weeks.
Pre-trial arguments before Judge Gamble continue.
It took years for campaigners to persuade Australian authorities to apply to extradite Malta Leifer from Israel, but eventually she was returned in January 2021.
She faces 70 sex offence charges and allegations from at least eight alleged victims.
She originally faced 74 charges, but four of those were dropped last year.
She has always denied the claims.
Keep community journalism free.
Jewish News is free for everyone. No paywall. No barriers. Just trusted journalism for anyone who wants to stay connected to Jewish life in Britain.
If you value that, please support us.
From as little as £5 a month, you can help keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Every day, we report on the issues that matter to our community. We celebrate achievements, support charities, challenge antisemitism and ensure Jewish voices are heard more widely.
From as little as £5 a month, you can help us continue to:
- Report on the stories shaping Jewish life in the UK and beyond
- Bring our community together through shared stories, events and campaigns
- Celebrate the people, culture and moments that define our community
- Support organisations doing vital work across Jewish Britain
You can make a one-off donation or become a regular supporter. Every contribution helps keep our journalism free, independent and accessible to all.
If everyone who values Jewish News gave a small amount, it would make a real difference to our future.
