Lawyers defending Malka Leifer, the former ultra-orthodox Jewish school principal, have told a court they are "considering" getting expert advice about her fitness to stand trial on dozens of child sexual abuse charges.
Ms Leifer, 55, today appeared in the County Court of Victoria where she has been committed to face a jury on 70 child sexual abuse allegations, dating back to her time as the principal of the Adass Israel School in Elsternwick.
Her accusers are sisters Dassi Erlich, Elly Sapper and Nicole Meyer.
Ms Leifer, who was extradited from Israel earlier this year, has always denied the charges and is set to face trial in 2022.
The court today heard that Ms Leifer's legal team may be pursuing expert reports into her fitness to stand trial.
"It's still a course that we're considering," said Ian Hill QC, who is defending Ms Leifer.
"Well, how much longer will you need to consider that course for before we know if that's what you're proposing to do?" judicial registrar Matthew Phillips asked.
"We'll certainly have an answer by the time that this matter next comes before the court. It's something that we're working towards," Mr Hill said.
"Alright because that's obviously going to be a particularly key issue," the judicial registrar said.
Ms Leifer's defence team today raised concerns that prosecutors would rely on "post-conduct offending".
"We're not certain what that notice will comprise," Mr Hill said.
"One can probably guess Mr Hill," the judicial registrar said.
"We probably can, too," Mr Hill said.
The judicial registrar today said that Ms Leifer had been in custody for a "lengthy period of time" and that he planned to allocate the trial to a judge as soon as possible.
"I'm anxious to progress the matter," he said.
Ms Leifer was remanded in custody and will return to court next March.
