Malka Leifer: Student ‘told abuse was principal’s way of showing love’

The former principal of an ultra-Orthodox school in Melbourne, Malka Leifer, has fronted court on a litany of sexual offences.

A picture of Malka Leifer from 2006. Police allege former Jewish school principal Malka Leifer committed a litany of sexual offences against students between 2003 and 2007.

Alleged sexual abuse victims of a former ultraconservative religious school principal feared they would be punished if they reported being raped and abused, as a court heard she told one of them her offending would “help” on their wedding night.

But Malka Leifer, who has been accused of committing a litany of sexual offences against three of her old students, denied their claims as she fronted Victoria’s County Court on Wednesday where her criminal trial is underway.

Crown prosecutor Justin Lewis delivered his opening statement to 15 jurors in which he said the three complainants in the case did not give their consent for any of the alleged sexual activity to take place.

The complainants have each given The Australian permission to be identified as Melbourne sisters Nicole Meyer, Dassi Erlich and Elly Sapper.

During his opening Mr Lewis outlined the offending Ms Leifer allegedly committed, which ranged from unwanted touching and kissing to sexual penetration without consent while she was principal of the Adass Israel School in Elsternwick — located in Melbourne’s south east.

He said out of 29 charges that took place between 2003 and 2007 the first five relate to Ms Meyer, charges six through 19 relate to Ms Erlich and charges 20 through 29 relate to Ms Sapper.

As she allegedly raped Ms Meyer at a school camp, Ms Leifer said “this will help you on your wedding night” the court heard. After the alleged offending took place, Ms Meyer was “frozen and kept her body completely still”, Mr Lewis said.

Separately, Ms Leifer told Ms Erlich her alleged offending was “a way of showing her how much she loved her”, he said.

And as Ms Sapper was preparing for a play at the school in a small dressing room, Ms Leifer allegedly came in and blocked the door before she kissed her on the neck and said “good luck” and promised to “continue this later” Mr Lewis told the court.

Some of the offending allegedly took place when the complainants were 16 or 17-years-old, while other offending is said to have occurred after the sisters graduated year 12.

The sisters were verbally and physically abused as children, and that their mother suffered from borderline personality disorder Mr Lewis said.

Malka Leifer appearing before County Court. Artist: Mollie McPherson

He told the jury they all grew up in east St Kilda and went to the same school, where Ms Leifer started as head of religious studies before she became principal in 2003 after she was recruited from Israel and moved to Australia about two years before that.

Ms Leifer held a position of authority and was respected in the community, the court heard. She also decided which students would secure teaching jobs at the school after they finished year 12. She awarded Ms Meyer, Ms Erlich and Ms Sapper teaching jobs.

He said the complainants did not have access to the internet, newspapers or TV news and led a “sheltered” life as children.

“They did not have any knowledge or understanding of sex,” he said.

As well, it was looked down upon to talk poorly about people in positions of authority, the court heard.

At points he said Ms Leifer threatened to tell the community about the complainants’ home life if they reported her abuse to anyone.

When he spoke about alleged offending against Ms Meyer, Mr Lewis also said she felt she could not tell anyone about what was happening for fear of “repercussions in the community”.

Ian Hill KC, for the defence, said his client did not dispute knowing the three sisters during the time she was a staff member at the Adass Israel School. But he said his client denied the charges made against her.

“She had a professional and proper interaction (with the sisters) while they were students,” he said.

“Some 21 of the charges are said to have occurred at times when the complainants were legally capable of consent.”

He also said the sisters were physically, verbally and emotionally abused as children by their mother in “sadistic ways” and that she was possibly “aided and abetted” by their father.

The hearing finished about 3pm on Wednesday. It will resume again on Thursday, but the proceeding will be closed as Nicole Meyer is expected to start giving her evidence.

She wore a dark blue head wrap on Wednesday, a black and gold sparkly jumper, a black skirt and sneakers.

The case is expected to go for about six weeks, and one of the complainants is set to give evidence in closed court from Thursday for about two weeks.