Former Adass principal to face jury in August
Malka Leifer trial date brought forward to August.
FORMER Adass school principal Malka Leifer is set to go on trial on August 1 to face charges relating to alleged child sexual abuse while she was principal of the school. She has pleaded not guilty to 90 charges.
The County Court trial – estimated to take about five weeks – was initially due to begin in October this year, but was moved forward, as an October trial would have clashed with Jewish holidays.
County Court Judge Mark Gamble, head of the court’s criminal division, will preside.
Leifer’s lawyers have now opted for a jury trial, after initially indicating their client would be seeking a judge-alone trial, according to barrister Ian Hill QC.
Leifer will face charges relating to her alleged abuse of sisters Dassi Erlich, Nicole Meyer and Elly Sapper during her role at Melbourne’s Adass Israel School between 2004 and 2008.
She has been remanded in custody until another directions hearing on May 11, before pre-trial legal arguments are held in July.
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