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| Cardinal Pell will plead not guilty, his lawyer confirms | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Cardinal George Pell will plead not guilty to all accusations of sexual assault against him, his lawyer has told a Melbourne court. | |
| The Vatican treasurer, 76, appeared in person for the brief administrative hearing on Wednesday. | |
| Cardinal Pell is accused of historical assaults involving "multiple complainants", police said last month. | |
| The senior Catholic Church figure has consistently denied any wrongdoing. | |
| He was not required to enter a plea on Wednesday. | |
| "Cardinal Pell will plead not guilty to all charges, and will maintain the presumed innocence that he has," Robert Richter, QC, told the court. | |
| The filing hearing lasted about five minutes, according to local media. The next hearing will be on 6 October. | |
| Cardinal Pell made no comment as he entered Melbourne Magistrates' Court flanked by police officers. | Cardinal Pell made no comment as he entered Melbourne Magistrates' Court flanked by police officers. |
| Dozens of local and international media representatives gathered outside the court, along with security guards and other onlookers. | |
| Standing room only | Standing room only |
| Phil Mercer, BBC News, Melbourne | Phil Mercer, BBC News, Melbourne |
| Cardinal Pell had to slowly wade through a legion of camera crews and reporters to reach the entrance of the court. | Cardinal Pell had to slowly wade through a legion of camera crews and reporters to reach the entrance of the court. |
| He has vowed to vigorously defend himself against the allegations, and here he was at the start of what could be lengthy legal proceedings. | He has vowed to vigorously defend himself against the allegations, and here he was at the start of what could be lengthy legal proceedings. |
| Rarely has an Australian court been besieged by such a large media contingent, with their satellite trucks and coverage taking the story all over the world. | Rarely has an Australian court been besieged by such a large media contingent, with their satellite trucks and coverage taking the story all over the world. |
| Pedestrians were forced off the pavement on to the road outside, while one passing motorist paused briefly to shout abuse at reporters. | Pedestrians were forced off the pavement on to the road outside, while one passing motorist paused briefly to shout abuse at reporters. |
| Supporters of Australia's most prominent Catholic figure had also gathered, queuing patiently to witness the hearing. | Supporters of Australia's most prominent Catholic figure had also gathered, queuing patiently to witness the hearing. |
| A middle-aged woman told me she was here with friends to "support George" as other curious onlookers captured the scene on their smartphones. | A middle-aged woman told me she was here with friends to "support George" as other curious onlookers captured the scene on their smartphones. |
| Last month, Cardinal Pell said he was "looking forward" to his day in court. | |
| Cardinal Pell arrived in his home country earlier this month, after being granted a leave of absence from the Vatican to fight the charges. | Cardinal Pell arrived in his home country earlier this month, after being granted a leave of absence from the Vatican to fight the charges. |
| Victoria Police said they had made the decision to charge the cleric after receiving advice from prosecutors earlier this year. | Victoria Police said they had made the decision to charge the cleric after receiving advice from prosecutors earlier this year. |
| "Cardinal Pell is facing multiple charges and there are multiple complainants," Deputy Commissioner Shane Patton said last month. | "Cardinal Pell is facing multiple charges and there are multiple complainants," Deputy Commissioner Shane Patton said last month. |
| Last month, Cardinal Pell told reporters: "I am innocent of these charges, they are false. The whole idea of sexual abuse is abhorrent to me." | Last month, Cardinal Pell told reporters: "I am innocent of these charges, they are false. The whole idea of sexual abuse is abhorrent to me." |
| He said in a press briefing at the Holy See that he had been the subject of a "relentless character assassination". | He said in a press briefing at the Holy See that he had been the subject of a "relentless character assassination". |
| As Vatican treasurer, Cardinal Pell is considered to be the third-ranking official in the Catholic Church. | As Vatican treasurer, Cardinal Pell is considered to be the third-ranking official in the Catholic Church. |