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Cardinal George Pell loses appeal against sexual abuse convictions | Cardinal George Pell loses appeal against sexual abuse convictions |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Cardinal George Pell, the most senior Catholic cleric to be convicted of sexual abuse, has failed in a legal bid to quash his convictions in Australia. | Cardinal George Pell, the most senior Catholic cleric to be convicted of sexual abuse, has failed in a legal bid to quash his convictions in Australia. |
Pell was jailed for six years in March after being found guilty of abusing two boys in a Melbourne cathedral in the 1990s. He maintains his innocence. | Pell was jailed for six years in March after being found guilty of abusing two boys in a Melbourne cathedral in the 1990s. He maintains his innocence. |
A court of appeal rejected Pell's argument that the verdict was unfair. | A court of appeal rejected Pell's argument that the verdict was unfair. |
The former Vatican treasurer, 78, will now remain in jail until he is eligible for parole in October 2022. | The former Vatican treasurer, 78, will now remain in jail until he is eligible for parole in October 2022. |
Last December, a jury unanimously convicted Pell of sexually abusing the 13-year-old boys at St Patrick's Cathedral. | Last December, a jury unanimously convicted Pell of sexually abusing the 13-year-old boys at St Patrick's Cathedral. |
Pell challenged the verdict by arguing it was "unreasonable" because there was insufficient evidence for the jury to convict him beyond a reasonable doubt. | Pell challenged the verdict by arguing it was "unreasonable" because there was insufficient evidence for the jury to convict him beyond a reasonable doubt. |
The cleric's lawyers said the jury had relied too heavily on the "uncorroborated evidence" of the sole surviving victim. But his appeal was dismissed 2-1 by a panel of three judges in Victoria's Court of Appeal on Wednesday. | The cleric's lawyers said the jury had relied too heavily on the "uncorroborated evidence" of the sole surviving victim. But his appeal was dismissed 2-1 by a panel of three judges in Victoria's Court of Appeal on Wednesday. |
"Justice [Chris] Maxwell and I accepted the prosecution's submission that the complainant was a compelling witness, was clearly not a liar, was not a fantasist and was a witness of truth," said Chief Justice Anne Ferguson. | "Justice [Chris] Maxwell and I accepted the prosecution's submission that the complainant was a compelling witness, was clearly not a liar, was not a fantasist and was a witness of truth," said Chief Justice Anne Ferguson. |
Pell's conviction has rocked the Catholic Church, where he had been one of the Pope's closest advisers. | Pell's conviction has rocked the Catholic Church, where he had been one of the Pope's closest advisers. |
What did the trial hear? | What did the trial hear? |
Pell was archbishop of Melbourne in 1996 when he found the two boys on cathedral premises and sexually assaulted them. He abused one of the boys again in 1997. | Pell was archbishop of Melbourne in 1996 when he found the two boys on cathedral premises and sexually assaulted them. He abused one of the boys again in 1997. |
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. |
A jury rejected the defence argument that the allegations were fantasies. It convicted Pell of one charge of sexually penetrating a child, and four counts of committing an indecent act on a child. | A jury rejected the defence argument that the allegations were fantasies. It convicted Pell of one charge of sexually penetrating a child, and four counts of committing an indecent act on a child. |
The verdict was kept secret from the public until February, when additional charges of sexual offences against Pell were withdrawn by prosecutors. | The verdict was kept secret from the public until February, when additional charges of sexual offences against Pell were withdrawn by prosecutors. |
What did the court of appeal say? | What did the court of appeal say? |
The two judges who upheld the conviction said that they "did not experience a doubt" about the verdict. | The two judges who upheld the conviction said that they "did not experience a doubt" about the verdict. |
"We note that Cardinal Pell did not have to prove anything in the trial. Rather, at all stages of trial, the burden of proof rested with the prosecution," Justice Ferguson said. | "We note that Cardinal Pell did not have to prove anything in the trial. Rather, at all stages of trial, the burden of proof rested with the prosecution," Justice Ferguson said. |
Pell was present for the hearing. If his appeal had been successful, the cleric had faced the possibility of being immediately set free on Wednesday. | Pell was present for the hearing. If his appeal had been successful, the cleric had faced the possibility of being immediately set free on Wednesday. |
Pell expressionless | |
Phil Mercer, BBC News, Melbourne | |
It took less than five minutes for George Pell to learn his fate. Dressed in black and wearing a clerical collar, the man who was once in the Pope's inner circle was impassive as Justice Ferguson handed down the decision. | |
Occasionally, he looked down, his gaunt features betraying no emotion. When the news filtered through to campaigners and survivors of abuse outside, there was a loud cheer. | |
"Pell looks better in green than black," one activist told me, referring to the cardinal's prison uniform. | |
Campaigners accept, however, that Pell's fight for freedom probably isn't over and that a final court challenge could remain. | |
What's the reaction? | |
Pell's surviving victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said he was "grateful for a legal system that everyone can believe in". | |
"My journey has not been an easy one," he said in a statement read by his lawyer. "It has been all the more stressful because it involved a high-profile figure." | |
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison told reporters: "My sympathies are with the victims of child sexual abuse. Not just on this day, but on every single day." | |
Could there be another appeal? | Could there be another appeal? |
Pell's legal team could seek leave to appeal against the judgement in the High Court of Australia, the nation's chief court. | Pell's legal team could seek leave to appeal against the judgement in the High Court of Australia, the nation's chief court. |
However, there is no guarantee that the court would agree to hear the case. | However, there is no guarantee that the court would agree to hear the case. |