The previous principal of a ladies’ faculty in Melbourne, Australia, was discovered responsible Monday on 18 prices of sexually abusing former college students greater than 15 years in the past in a case whose yearslong extradition battle examined relations between Australia and Israel.
The defendant, Malka Leifer, 56 — who confronted 27 counts of sexual abuse in all and was acquitted on 9 — was on trial for incidents alleged to have taken place between 2003 and 2007, when she was principal of the Adass Israel College, an ultra-Orthodox Jewish establishment. She pleaded not responsible to the entire prices.
Three sisters have been named because the victims within the case. Prosecutors stated the abuse started once they have been college students and continued after they grew to become pupil academics there. The incidents have been alleged to have occurred on the faculty, at camps organized by the college and at Ms. Leifer’s dwelling.
The prosecutors argued that Ms. Leifer exploited her authority over the sisters, Nicole Meyer, Dassi Erlich and Elly Sapper, in addition to their vulnerability and lack of awareness about sexual issues. Ms. Leifer’s attorneys argued that the sisters have been unreliable witnesses whose accounts had modified through the years.
A jury handed down a verdict after a six-week trial and 9 days of deliberation. The 18 prices Ms. Leifer was discovered responsible of included rape, indecent assault and sexual penetration and indecent assault of a 16- or 17-year-old. She was acquitted of prices of rape and indecent assault.
Ms. Leifer, a married mom of eight, fled to Israel in 2008 after allegations of sexual abuse first surfaced, and was arrested there in 2014 at Australia’s request. The sisters campaigned to have her extradited to Australia, and several other Australian politicians, together with two prime ministers, raised the matter with their Israeli counterparts.
However the course of was delayed a number of instances after Ms. Leifer claimed to have psychological well being difficulties, and a psychiatric analysis discovered her unfit to face trial.
Ultimately, an Israeli decide authorized Ms. Leifer’s extradition, ruling that she had faked psychological sickness for years. She was returned to Australia in 2021.
Final 12 months, Yaakov Litzman, an Israeli lawmaker, was sentenced to an eight-month suspended jail sentence over accusations that he used his place to strain psychiatrists to deem Ms. Leifer unfit to face trial.
The case in opposition to Ms. Leifer relied on the testimony of the three sisters, who gave proof and have been cross-examined for 2 weeks in a courtroom that was closed to the general public and the information media. The prosecution additionally known as law enforcement officials, psychologists and members of the college’s workers as witnesses.
Ms. Leifer didn’t testify, and the protection known as no witnesses.
A prosecutor, Justin Lewis, informed jurors that the sisters have been raised in an remoted ultra-Orthodox group, had a “depressing dwelling life,” have been conditioned to not query authority and acquired no intercourse schooling. He stated Ms. Leifer had taken benefit of these elements, in addition to her personal revered standing in the neighborhood, to govern them.
The sisters testified that they’d not understood the sexual nature of what was being accomplished to them, in accordance with Mr. Lewis.
A protection lawyer, Ian Hill, stated there have been sufficient inconsistencies within the sisters’ tales to create cheap doubt in regards to the accusations. He stated their model of the occasions developed and “grew like wildfire.”
At a information convention after the decision was handed down, Ms. Erlich stated it was “a day we’ve got waited so lengthy for.”
“Her abuse has held us hostage for therefore lengthy,” she added. “At present we are able to begin to take that energy again that she stole from us as kids.”
“Malka Leifer is responsible,” Ms. Meyer stated. “Now we have waited 11 years to say these phrases. Sure, it’s bittersweet, however she is responsible.”
Ms. Leifer will likely be sentenced at a later date.
