Accused paedophile Malka Leifer sat silent, hunching forward and resting her head on her arms as she faced court and her three accusers.
Thirteen years after fleeing Australia over sexual abuse allegations, the former school principal appeared before Melbourne Magistrates Court on Thursday. She had arrived in Melbourne on Wednesday night following her extradition from Israel.
The 54-year-old wore a patterned jacket, a head covering and face mask and did not say a word throughout the 15-minute hearing as she appeared via a video link, sitting at a wide table at North Melbourne police station.
A police officer standing nearby confirmed they could hear what was being said in court.
Ms Leifer faces 74 charges comprising 11 counts of rape, 47 of indecent assault, three of sexual penetration of a child and 13 of committing an indecent act with a child.
Her lawyer, Tony Hargreaves, told the court Ms Leifer had “significant mental health issues” that required medication and asked that she be transferred to prison “as quickly as possible” from the police cells so her mental health could be better treated.
The former principal of the Adass Israel School in Elsternwick is accused of sexually abusing three of her then students between 2004 and 2008.
Charge sheets allege most of the offences were committed in Elsternwick, but also in Elwood, Frankston and Emerald and the regional towns of Blampied and Rawson.
Read the article by Adam Cooper in The Age.