April date set for Oprah Winfrey school abuse scandal trial

Washington, Jan 17 : A judge has set April 21 as the trial date for a dormitory matron accused of abusing students at Oprah Winfrey's school for underprivileged girls in Johannesburg.

Tiny Virginia Makopo is accused of 13 charges of indecent assault, assault and criminal injury, allegedly committed against six students aged 13 to 15.

Makopo pleaded not guilty at her first court appearance in November last year, reports usmagazine.com.

She appeared in the magistrates court on Jan 16 with a maroon towel over her head, and remained completely silent during the pre-trial hearing.

The Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls opened last January with much fanfare, with guests including anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela, Spike Lee and Tina Turner.

The talk show queen handed out her personal cell phone number and email addresses to parents after the news of the incident broke out last November.

"This has been one of the most devastating experiences of my life," she said at the time.

ANI