An ultra-Orthodox former school principal accused of abusing three students allegedly told one “this will help you for your wedding night”.
Malka Leifer prayed and held a religious text, occasionally shutting her eyes, as the prosecution outlined its case in the Melbourne County Court on Wednesday.
Leifer has pleaded not guilty to 29 charges, including rape. In September 2021 she was committed to stand trial on allegations that between 2003 and 2007 she abused three students who attended the Adass Israel School in Elsternwick. She has consistently maintained her innocence.
The 29 charges she faces comprise 10 of rape, 10 of indecent assault, three of sexual penetration of a 16-year-old or 17-year-old child, five of an indecent act with a 16-year-old or 17-year-old child, and one of rape by compelled sexual penetration.
Prosecutor Justin Lewis told the court about the strict ultra-Orthodox community the three alleged victims grew up in, how they did not have access to television, newspapers or the internet, and had little or no education or knowledge about sex.
Lewis told the jury that in that community it was not acceptable to say anything against anyone of high standing, which affected their ability to disclose the alleged abuse at the hands of Leifer.
He also said that Leifer implied to one of the complainants, Dassi Erlich, that if she were to communicate with anyone about what was happening to her, she would tell the community that Erlich’s mother was verbally and physically abusive, something imparted to Leifer in confidence.
Read the article by David Estcourt in The Age.