Bessie Johnston, the first ever SWOTY winner in 1963. Over the decades, we have marked the achievements of a breathtakingly impressive list of women, from lifesavers to life changers, from business leaders to charity champions, artists to inventors. Guest speakers have included future Prime Ministers, Scotland’s top entertainers and even royalty - HRH Princess Anne, the Princess Royal attended our silver jubilee. In recent years we have introduced a second award, Young SWOTY, which pays tribute to young women aged between 12 and 21, who are already making their mark on Scottish society. Isobel Murdoch, a finalist in 1963, who went on to win in 1967. Pic: Herald and Times
Tomorrow night’s virtual extravaganza, in association with St Enoch Centre, will be streamed on Ongoing Covid restrictions, of course, mean that sadly we cannot hold our usual party. However, that means EVERYONE can share in the magic of SWOTY as we announce the winner of both our main award, and the Young Scotswoman of the Year trophy. Entertainment is being provided by a tremendous trio of performers at the top of their game – singers Melanie Masson and Marina Rolink, and poet Len Pennie. Melanie, who shot to fame on X Factor and has since toured all over the world, performing alongside artists as diverse as Pink and the Stereophonics, said: “I’m delighted to be part of SWOTY this year.
19:44 EDT, 9 April 2021
5 shares
Three sisters want to give evidence against their alleged abuser Malka Leifer in person as she faces dozens of charges stemming from her time at Melbourne s Adass Israel School.
Leifer, a 54-year-old former principal of the ultra-Orthodox college, faces 74 charges including rape and indecent assault between January 2004 and March 2008.
Siblings Dassi Erlich, Nicole Meyer and Elly Sapper are among 10 witnesses set to give evidence against Leifer in a five-day Melbourne Magistrates Court committal hearing scheduled for September.
Malka Leifer (pictured right) is facing 74 rape and child sex abuse charges from her time as a principal at Melbourne s ultra-Orthodox Addas Israel School
Leifer accusers set to attend court in person to give evidence
We’re sorry, this service is currently unavailable. Please try again later.
Dismiss
Normal text size
Advertisement
Three sisters who allege they were sexually abused by Malka Leifer are set to give evidence in person in court later this year rather than appear via video links.
As Ms Leifer faced Melbourne Magistrates Court for the second time since her extradition from Israel in January, the court heard it was the preference of sisters Elly Sapper, Dassi Erlich and Nicole Meyer to be questioned in person in the hearing that determines whether the former principal stands trial.
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.