Celebrity News January 16, 2008
Trial Date Set for Oprah's School Employee
A trial date has been set for the woman accused of abusing students at Oprah Winfrey's prestigious Leadership Academy for Girls.
Tiny Virginia Makopo will appear in a South African court April 21 to face 13 charges of indecent assault, assault and criminal injury allegedly committed against six students and a fellow dormitory matron.
At the first court hearing last November, she pleaded not guilty.
Police have said the alleged abuse occurred over four months at Winfrey's $40 million school. The media queen founded the school last January for disadvantaged girls in the hopes that they could receive quality education.
Winfrey, who has called herself the school's "momma bear," was devastated to learn of the allegations and has flown to South Africa several times. In the past, she has spoken publicly about her own abuse at the hands of a family member.
