Leifer looked downward for most of the hearing, only speaking once to answer “yes” when asked if she could see the court proceedings on the video link – a question she did not respond to during her previous court appearance.
Prosecutor Holly Baxter said she would prefer the five-day committal hearing set for September be conducted in-person, as the sisters want to give evidence against Leifer in person, as opposed to remotely.
Leifer’s lawyer, Tony Hargreaves, also said he preferred an in-person committal hearing.
Hargreaves said the defence planned to cross-examine sisters Dassi Erlich, Elly Saper and Nicole Meyer, who have alleged abuse by Leifer when they were her students at the Adass Israel ultra-Orthodox Jewish girls school.
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Malka Leifer s lawyers say they may probe home life of accusers in child sex offences court case
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Malka Leifer appeared by videolink to the Melbourne Magistrates Court.
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Lawyers for Malka Leifer, the former ultra-orthodox school principal accused of dozens of child sex offences, have said the home life of her alleged victims may be probed, as they seek to test the evidence against her.
Key points:
The administrative hearing was told 10 witnesses would be called to test the evidence against Ms Leifer
Her lawyer told the Melbourne Magistrates Court any cross-examination would be done with as much care as possible
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