Former Melbourne school principal Malka Leifer, who faces 74 charges of sexual abuse, has been dropped by lawyers days out from a crucial extradition hearing.
Fugitive teacher Malka Leifer has been dumped by her lawyers ahead of a crucial extradition appeal hearing in Israel.
The former principal at Melbourne’s ultraorthodox Adass Israel school was wanted on 74 charges of sexual abuse.
Firebrand lawyer Tal Gabay revealed he had dumped Leifer’s case just days before a crucial December 3 appeal hearing at the Supreme Court of Israel.
He has been an advocate for Leifer for six years, with the case being dragged before the court more than 70 times.
Judge Miriam Lomp in September finally decided that Leifer, who had claimed she was too mentally unwell to travel, should be sent to Australia to face justice.
Mr Gabay, who advocated for Leifer along with Yehuda Fried, said the pair would no longer represent her.
“Gabay and Fried have decided that they will not continue to represent it because it is a “side issue to the long and ongoing process of questioning her mental capacity,” a translation of a report in Israel’s Globes newspaper on Friday said.
One of the lawyers had shouted in the courtroom foyer following a hearing in January that “it wasn’t over until it’s over” but the latest move has shown a change of tack.
Read the article by Stephen Drill in the Herald Sun.