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Cardinal Pell granted final chance to challenge sexual abuse convictions | Cardinal Pell granted final chance to challenge sexual abuse convictions |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Cardinal George Pell will be allowed a final chance to challenge his child sexual abuse convictions, Australia's top court has ruled. | Cardinal George Pell will be allowed a final chance to challenge his child sexual abuse convictions, Australia's top court has ruled. |
Pell was granted leave to appeal the verdict in the High Court of Australia. | Pell was granted leave to appeal the verdict in the High Court of Australia. |
The ex-Vatican treasurer, 78, is currently serving a six-year jail term for abusing two boys in a Melbourne cathedral in the 1990s. | The ex-Vatican treasurer, 78, is currently serving a six-year jail term for abusing two boys in a Melbourne cathedral in the 1990s. |
He lost his first challenge against his convictions in August and has consistently maintained his innocence. | He lost his first challenge against his convictions in August and has consistently maintained his innocence. |
Pell is the most high-ranking Catholic official in the world to be convicted of child sexual abuse. | Pell is the most high-ranking Catholic official in the world to be convicted of child sexual abuse. |
Last December, a jury unanimously found him guilty of sexually abusing two 13-year-old boys in St Patrick's Cathedral, when he was the city's archbishop. | Last December, a jury unanimously found him guilty of sexually abusing two 13-year-old boys in St Patrick's Cathedral, when he was the city's archbishop. |
The convictions include one count of sexual penetration and four counts of committing indecent acts. | The convictions include one count of sexual penetration and four counts of committing indecent acts. |
Pell unsuccessfully challenged the verdict in Victoria's Court of Appeal in August, when a panel of three judges ruled against him 2-1. | Pell unsuccessfully challenged the verdict in Victoria's Court of Appeal in August, when a panel of three judges ruled against him 2-1. |
They rejected the cleric's argument that the jury's verdict had been unfair and had relied unreasonably on the testimony of one victim. | They rejected the cleric's argument that the jury's verdict had been unfair and had relied unreasonably on the testimony of one victim. |
Pell will now argue the judges erred in their decision on those grounds. | Pell will now argue the judges erred in their decision on those grounds. |
His appeal will be heard next year in the High Court of Australia, where a ruling will be made by a majority of seven judges. | |
This will be the final ruling on the case and it cannot be further challenged. | |
Pell's case has rocked the Catholic Church and he was demoted from the Pope's inner circle last year. | Pell's case has rocked the Catholic Church and he was demoted from the Pope's inner circle last year. |
The Vatican has faced calls for Pell to be defrocked, but it has said the cleric has the right to pursue all legal appeals. | The Vatican has faced calls for Pell to be defrocked, but it has said the cleric has the right to pursue all legal appeals. |