An alleged victim of former ultra-Orthodox principal Malka Leifer was scared and panicked when sexual abuse accusations against the school leader began to surface, a jury has heard.

Dassi Erlich’s former husband, Joshua, told a jury in the Melbourne County Court on Monday that Leifer had been adored and spoken of in glowing terms by his wife and her two sisters, who regarded the Adass community leader as a surrogate parent.

A court sketch of Malka Leifer in the County Court earlier this month.Credit:Mollie McPherson/Nine News

But when attention began to turn on Leifer’s behaviour Dassi became “afraid of what would follow”.

Leifer has pleaded not guilty to 29 charges, including rape. She is standing 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.

Leifer sat in the back of the court, listening intently to evidence from Joshua Erlich, psychologist Dr Vicki Gordon and school cleaner Mario Toledo.

Gordon and Joshua described the tough home life the three complainants – sisters Nicole Meyer, Dassi Erlich and Elly Sapper – had and how Leifer came to fill the role of mother in their lives.

Dassi, Joshua Erlich said, would go shopping and on walks with Leifer. He said Dassi told him that Leifer would “rub her thigh in an affectionate way”.

“They all adored her,” he said, “all vying for her attention.”

He said Dassi became worried when allegations against Leifer began to surface and was confused why social worker Chana Rabinowitz, who was in Melbourne and looking into the allegations, was making “such a big deal” of them.

“Dassi was scared and panicked about what was happening,” Joshua said, speaking softly in the witness box. She was also afraid of “what would follow”, he said.

Joshua also said he overheard two of the sisters speaking about ways they would attempt to harass their alleged abuser, and agreed with a description of the conversation, made by defence barrister Ian Hill, KC, that the girls were speaking about it “like it was a fun and exciting thing to do”, and that “they were laughing about it”.

The jury also heard that one of the sisters, Sapper, was taken to see Gordon after Rabinowitz first heard of the allegations.

Gordon read from comments provided by Sapper about the alleged abuse. Sapper told Gordon, the trial heard, that Leifer had made her feel like there was something wrong with her because she didn’t like the alleged abuse.

Gordon quoted Sapper: “She [Leifer] even asked if I was enjoying it, and when I said no, I didn’t like it, she would say to me, ‘I will never be able to give a man pleasure’. She made me feel as if there was something wrong with me. I never enjoyed it, there were times when it hurt me.”

Gordon said that at some points, when Sapper was describing her alleged abuse, she was so ashamed that she couldn’t speak and was only capable of sending SMS messages to Gordon from the other side of the room.

Former principal Malka Leifer is accused of abusing three of her then students between 2003 and 2007.

Toledo said he often saw Leifer at the school on Sundays, and that he had also seen the sisters at different times. He said when he was cleaning around the school he would find notes which read: “Mario, please don’t come in”.

“On one occasion where I opened the door and [Leifer] shut the door and told me not to come in,” Toledo said through a translator.

He also said he rarely got close to the girls or Leifer when he was working.

The 29 charges 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.

Joshua Erlich leaves the County Court after giving evidence on Monday.Credit:Jason South

The complainants – sisters Meyer, Erlich and Sapper – have provided permission to The Age to be identified.

The trial, in front of Judge Mark Gamble, continues.

If you need support, call the National Sexual Assault, Domestic and Family Violence Counselling Service on 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732).

The Morning Edition newsletter is our guide to the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up here.

Most Viewed in National

From our partners

Source: Read Full Article