An Australian court ruled Thursday that a former principal of an ultra-Orthodox Jewish girls' school extradited by Israel will stand trial for the alleged sexual abuse and assault of dozens of students under her care. The crimes allegedly took place when she was head of Melbourne's Adass Israel School between 2004 and 2008.
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Malka Leifer, 55, origianlly faced 74 charges, including rape and indecent assault, but a lawyer for the Australian Prosecution asked the court to drop four counts because the alleged crimes had occurred in Israel.
Judge Johanna Metcalf ruled that there was enough evidence "to support a conviction for the remainder of the offenses of which the accused is charged."
Leifer pleaded not guilty to on all 70 counts.
A trial date was not immediately set, but a hearing was scheduled for Oct. 21. Leifer made no application for bail and is to remain in jail.
