Oprah School Trial Takes Long Recess

Proceedings in former dorm matron's abuse trial have been postponed until October

School trial's out for the summer.

The South African court tasked with trying a former dorm matron from the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls announced today that the remainder of the proceedings will be postponed for nearly three months to allow court officials time to visit the school.

The trial, which kicked off on Monday in Johannesburg's Sebokeng Magistrate Court, was expected to wrap up today, but just one of the six alleged victims has managed to give testimony.

The remaining five minors set to testify will now do so, via closed circuit video, when the trial resumes on Oct. 22.

"I'm a bit sad," prosecuting attorney Etienne Venter said of the delay. "We were hoping to finish all six victims by now. We're going to try and see if we can finish all six of them in those there days."

Earlier this week, former dorm matron "Tiny" Virginia Makopo pleaded not guilty to all 14 charges she faced in connection with the case, including indecent assault, common assault, verbal abuse, soliciting a minor to perform indecent acts and criminal injury.

She's accused of abusing six students and a fellow dorm matron over a four-month period at the school, for which she was first arrested in the delay-plagued case last November.

Should she be found guilty of all charges, she faces a minimum sentence of 10 years in jail.