World | Other World Stories
Abuse case dogs Oprah's school
A former dormitory matron at Oprah Winfrey's school for poor South African girls on Tuesday pleaded innocent to charges that she indecently assaulted and abused six teenagers and a fellow matron at the academy.
- AP
- Published: 23:47 July 29, 2008
Sebokeng, South Africa: A former dormitory matron at Oprah Winfrey's school for poor South African girls on Tuesday pleaded innocent to charges that she indecently assaulted and abused six teenagers and a fellow matron at the academy.
Tiny Virginia Makopo, 28, looked nervous and sullen at the start of her trial.
Judge Thelma Simpson granted a prosecution request for the rest of the proceedings, expected to last all week, to be closed to the public. She also is allowing the teenagers to testify through close-circuit TV to save them the trauma of confronting their alleged attacker in court.
Prosecutor Etienne Venter described the girls as "very scared and very, very emotional".
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