Dwell
After weeks of closed-door hearings the court docket is predicted to open once more within the trial of former ultra-Orthodox Jewish faculty principal Malka Leifer, who’s accused of raping three former college students.
The 56-year-old Israeli lady is dealing with 29 prices over the alleged sexual abuse of Melbourne sisters Nicole Meyer, Dassi Erlich and Elly Sapper when she was head of faith and principal of the Adass Israel Faculty within the metropolis’s jap suburbs.
Leifer, a mom of eight, has pleaded not responsible and is dealing with trial within the Victorian County Court docket.
The listening to moved behind closed doorways for 2 weeks to permit the three ladies to offer proof towards Leifer.
The case has been held in closed court docket since opening statements made by prosecutor Justin Lewis and Leifer’s protection barrister Ian Hill KC.
Leifer is accused of raping all three ladies, now of their 30s. Different prices embody indecent assault and sexual penetration of a kid aged 16 or 17 who was underneath her care or supervision.
She has pleaded not responsible to all prices.
Mr Lewis argued that Leifer had an inclination to behave in the way in which alleged.
“It’s mentioned she tends to have a sexual curiosity in ladies once they have been teenage college students on the faculty and when those self same ladies have been pupil lecturers… to reap the benefits of their vulnerability, their ignorance in sexual issues and her place within the faculty ,” he mentioned.
It is alleged after raping Ms Meyer, shortly earlier than her wedding ceremony, Leifer advised her “this can allow you to to your wedding ceremony night time”.
She’s additionally accused of sexually abusing Ms Meyer and Ms Erlich when the trio shared a room on a college camp.
She advised the youngest sister, Ms Sapper, that the abuse was “good for you”, Mr Lewis alleged.
Mr Hill mentioned the protection place was that the allegations are “inaccurate, imagined and/or fabricated”.
“Mrs Leifer denies the entire legal conduct alleged by every of the complainants,” he mentioned.
“You’ll hear that in 2008 she mentioned to a fellow instructor… that she had completed nothing incorrect.”
He mentioned jurors have been anticipated to listen to there was a constructive, glowing and applicable relationship between Leifer and the sisters.
– AAP
