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| Cardinal Pell will plead not guilty, his lawyer confirms | Cardinal Pell will plead not guilty, his lawyer confirms |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Cardinal George Pell will plead not guilty to all accusations of sexual assault against him, his lawyer has told a Melbourne court. | 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. | 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. | Cardinal Pell is accused of historical assaults involving "multiple complainants", police said last month. |
| The senior Catholic Church figure has consistently denied any wrongdoing. | The senior Catholic Church figure has consistently denied any wrongdoing. |
| He was not required to enter a plea during the hearing, which lasted less than 10 minutes. | He was not required to enter a plea during the hearing, which lasted less than 10 minutes. |
| "Cardinal Pell will plead not guilty to all charges, and will maintain the presumed innocence that he has," his barrister Robert Richter, QC, told the Melbourne Magistrates' Court. | "Cardinal Pell will plead not guilty to all charges, and will maintain the presumed innocence that he has," his barrister Robert Richter, QC, told the Melbourne Magistrates' Court. |
| Prosecutors were given until 8 September to prepare a brief of evidence. The next hearing, known as a committal mention, will be on 6 October. | Prosecutors were given until 8 September to prepare a brief of evidence. The next hearing, known as a committal mention, will be on 6 October. |
| Cardinal Pell was flanked by police officers and surrounded by crowds as he entered and left court. | Cardinal Pell was flanked by police officers and surrounded by crowds as he entered and left court. |
| Dozens of local and international media representatives had gathered outside, along with security guards and other onlookers. | Dozens of local and international media representatives had gathered outside, 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. |
| Magistrate Duncan Reynolds told the court that the hearing was for administrative purposes. | Magistrate Duncan Reynolds told the court that the hearing was for administrative purposes. |
| Prosecutor Andrew Tinney, SC, urged media outlets to report the proceedings fairly and accurately. | Prosecutor Andrew Tinney, SC, urged media outlets to report the proceedings fairly and accurately. |
| Cardinal Pell made no comment during the hearing or later when he walked a short distance to his barrister's office. | Cardinal Pell made no comment during the hearing or later when he walked a short distance to his barrister's office. |
| He returned to Australia earlier this month, after being granted a leave of absence from the Vatican to fight the accusations. Details of the charges have not been revealed. | |
| Last month, Cardinal Pell said he was "looking forward" to his day in court. | Last month, Cardinal Pell said he was "looking forward" to his day in court. |
| "I am innocent of these charges, they are false. The whole idea of sexual abuse is abhorrent to me," he said at the time. | "I am innocent of these charges, they are false. The whole idea of sexual abuse is abhorrent to me," he said at the time. |
| 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. |
| 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. |