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Cardinal George Pell: Prosecutors defend 'unimpeachable' verdict | Cardinal George Pell: Prosecutors defend 'unimpeachable' verdict |
(about 7 hours later) | |
Australian prosecutors have argued that Cardinal George Pell's conviction for child sexual abuse is "unimpeachable", on the final day of his appeal hearing. | |
The ex-Vatican treasurer was found guilty by a jury last year of abusing two boys in 1996 in a Melbourne church. He was later jailed for six years. | The ex-Vatican treasurer was found guilty by a jury last year of abusing two boys in 1996 in a Melbourne church. He was later jailed for six years. |
Pell, 77, is the most senior Catholic figure to be convicted of such crimes. | Pell, 77, is the most senior Catholic figure to be convicted of such crimes. |
But he maintains his innocence and is seeking to overturn the jury's verdict, arguing it was "unreasonable". | But he maintains his innocence and is seeking to overturn the jury's verdict, arguing it was "unreasonable". |
The two-day hearing at Victoria's Court of Appeal ended on Thursday and the three judges reserved their decision, which will be published at an unspecified date. | |
The former Vatican treasurer was returned to prison to await the outcome. | |
What happened on Thursday? | |
Pell's lawyers detailed several arguments for why the abuse could not have occurred, but prosecutors have rejected those claims. | |
"When looking at the whole of the evidence, the integrity of the jury's verdicts is unimpeachable," they said in submissions to the appeal court. | "When looking at the whole of the evidence, the integrity of the jury's verdicts is unimpeachable," they said in submissions to the appeal court. |
His conviction has rocked the Catholic Church, where he had been among Pope Francis's closest advisers. | His conviction has rocked the Catholic Church, where he had been among Pope Francis's closest advisers. |
What was Pell convicted of? | What was Pell convicted of? |
Last year, the County Court of Victoria heard that Pell had abused two 13-year-old boys following a mass in 1996, when he was archbishop of Melbourne. He abused one of the boys again in 1997, the court was told. | Last year, the County Court of Victoria heard that Pell had abused two 13-year-old boys following a mass in 1996, when he was archbishop of Melbourne. He abused one of the boys again in 1997, the court was told. |
A jury unanimously convicted him on one charge of sexually penetrating a child under 16, and four counts of committing an indecent act on a child under 16. | A jury unanimously convicted him on one charge of sexually penetrating a child under 16, and four counts of committing an indecent act on a child under 16. |
The trial heard testimony from one of the victims. The other died of a drug overdose in 2014. | The trial heard testimony from one of the victims. The other died of a drug overdose in 2014. |
Pell chose not to give evidence during the trial. | Pell chose not to give evidence during the trial. |
What is the appeal? | |
Pell has contested the verdict on three grounds. The first - and most debated - asserts that the jury was "unreasonable" in their verdict, because they relied too heavily on the testimony of the surviving victim. | Pell has contested the verdict on three grounds. The first - and most debated - asserts that the jury was "unreasonable" in their verdict, because they relied too heavily on the testimony of the surviving victim. |
Pell's lawyer, Bret Walker SC, said that other witnesses' evidence and an alleged timeline showed that it would be "literally, logically impossible for the offending to have occurred". | Pell's lawyer, Bret Walker SC, said that other witnesses' evidence and an alleged timeline showed that it would be "literally, logically impossible for the offending to have occurred". |
The second aspect of the appeal asserts that the trial judge had wrongly prevented a defence animation from being played at the trial. | The second aspect of the appeal asserts that the trial judge had wrongly prevented a defence animation from being played at the trial. |
The video represents the locations of witnesses inside St Patrick's Cathedral. Pell's lawyers argue that he could not have committed abuse because it was impossible for him to be alone. | The video represents the locations of witnesses inside St Patrick's Cathedral. Pell's lawyers argue that he could not have committed abuse because it was impossible for him to be alone. |
The third challenge contends that Pell was prevented from entering his plea before a jury - against court process. | The third challenge contends that Pell was prevented from entering his plea before a jury - against court process. |
Prosecutors rebutted each of those claims on Thursday. | |
They described the testimony of the surviving victim - who cannot be named - as "compelling", adding that he was a "witness of truth". | They described the testimony of the surviving victim - who cannot be named - as "compelling", adding that he was a "witness of truth". |
The appeal has been heard by three judges in the Court of Appeal - a division of the Supreme Court of Victoria. | |
The judges must also decide whether Pell can be granted leave to appeal at all - in other words, whether he is allowed to do so. | |
A successful appeal could result in a retrial or Pell being immediately released, legal experts say. That decision requires only two of the three judges to agree. | A successful appeal could result in a retrial or Pell being immediately released, legal experts say. That decision requires only two of the three judges to agree. |
Any decision could be challenged further in the High Court of Australia - the nation's top court. | Any decision could be challenged further in the High Court of Australia - the nation's top court. |
The Vatican has previously said that Pell has the right to "defend himself to the last degree". Pell's surviving victim has previously expressed concern that the verdict could be overturned. | The Vatican has previously said that Pell has the right to "defend himself to the last degree". Pell's surviving victim has previously expressed concern that the verdict could be overturned. |
"There is no rest for me. Everything is overshadowed by the forthcoming appeal," he said in March. | "There is no rest for me. Everything is overshadowed by the forthcoming appeal," he said in March. |
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