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George Pell: Court hears cardinal's final bid to quash sexual abuse verdict | George Pell: Court hears cardinal's final bid to quash sexual abuse verdict |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Cardinal George Pell's final bid to overturn his convictions for child sexual abuse has begun hearings in Australia's top court. | Cardinal George Pell's final bid to overturn his convictions for child sexual abuse has begun hearings in Australia's top court. |
The ex-Vatican treasurer is serving a six-year jail sentence after a jury found he abused two boys in a Melbourne cathedral in the 1990s. | The ex-Vatican treasurer is serving a six-year jail sentence after a jury found he abused two boys in a Melbourne cathedral in the 1990s. |
Pell is the most senior Catholic priest ever to be found guilty of such crimes. | Pell is the most senior Catholic priest ever to be found guilty of such crimes. |
He is seeking to challenge the verdict by arguing that the jury did not properly consider all evidence. | He is seeking to challenge the verdict by arguing that the jury did not properly consider all evidence. |
The Australian cleric, 78, has maintained his innocence since he was charged by police in June 2017. | The Australian cleric, 78, has maintained his innocence since he was charged by police in June 2017. |
The case in the High Court of Australia is Pell's last avenue of appeal, after a lower court rejected his first bid to quash the verdict last year. | The case in the High Court of Australia is Pell's last avenue of appeal, after a lower court rejected his first bid to quash the verdict last year. |
The conviction has rocked the Catholic Church, where Pell had been one of the Pope's most senior advisers. | The conviction has rocked the Catholic Church, where Pell had been one of the Pope's most senior advisers. |
The Vatican has been under pressure to defrock the cleric, but it has maintained he deserves a full and fair legal process. | The Vatican has been under pressure to defrock the cleric, but it has maintained he deserves a full and fair legal process. |
What was the original guilty finding? | What was the original guilty finding? |
In December 2018, a jury unanimously found Pell guilty of sexually abusing two 13-year-old choir boys in private rooms in St Patrick's Cathedral. Pell was archbishop of Melbourne at the time. | In December 2018, a jury unanimously found Pell guilty of sexually abusing two 13-year-old choir boys in private rooms in St Patrick's Cathedral. Pell was archbishop of Melbourne at the time. |
The convictions included one count of sexual penetration and four counts of committing indecent acts. | The convictions included one count of sexual penetration and four counts of committing indecent acts. |
Pell's trial heard testimony from the only surviving victim. The abuse was not witnessed by anyone else, but the trial also heard evidence from dozens of churchgoers. | Pell's trial heard testimony from the only surviving victim. The abuse was not witnessed by anyone else, but the trial also heard evidence from dozens of churchgoers. |
In sentencing Pell in 2019, Judge Peter Kidd said the cleric had committed "a brazen and forcible sexual attack on the two victims". | In sentencing Pell in 2019, Judge Peter Kidd said the cleric had committed "a brazen and forcible sexual attack on the two victims". |
Timeline of key events in Pell's case | Timeline of key events in Pell's case |
What is Pell arguing now? | |
His central argument is that the jury and previous appeal court relied too heavily on evidence from the victim who testified. | His central argument is that the jury and previous appeal court relied too heavily on evidence from the victim who testified. |
His lawyers have described that victim's testimony as "compelling" but argue it is uncorroborated. They assert the jury did not properly consider other evidence. | His lawyers have described that victim's testimony as "compelling" but argue it is uncorroborated. They assert the jury did not properly consider other evidence. |
"No matter how favourable a view was taken of the complainant, it was not open to the jury, acting rationally, to conclude that the prosecution had eliminated all reasonable doubt," his lawyers argue. | "No matter how favourable a view was taken of the complainant, it was not open to the jury, acting rationally, to conclude that the prosecution had eliminated all reasonable doubt," his lawyers argue. |
Prosecutors reject these assertions. Two of three appeal judges rejected Pell's first challenge in Victoria's Court of Appeal last year. | Prosecutors reject these assertions. Two of three appeal judges rejected Pell's first challenge in Victoria's Court of Appeal last year. |
Chief Justice Anne Ferguson of that court said: "The complainant was a compelling witness, was clearly not a liar, was not a fantasist and was a witness of truth." | Chief Justice Anne Ferguson of that court said: "The complainant was a compelling witness, was clearly not a liar, was not a fantasist and was a witness of truth." |
When will there be a decision? | When will there be a decision? |
The arguments in Canberra will take place over two days before a full bench of seven judges. They will simultaneously assess whether Pell has a legitimate case for an appeal. | |
There could be a ruling on Thursday, or the judges could reserve the decision - possibly for months. | There could be a ruling on Thursday, or the judges could reserve the decision - possibly for months. |
Pell, who is in a maximum security prison in Victoria, will not be at the hearings. | Pell, who is in a maximum security prison in Victoria, will not be at the hearings. |
Protests outside court | |
Shaimaa Khalil, BBC News in Canberra | |
George Pell supporters gathered outside the court holding banners and saying prayers. Some had a picture of Pell stuck on their chest. | |
They soon came face to face with an anti-Pell protester - each side trying to make their chants heard. It's another reminder of how divided Australia has been over one of the most high-profile cases in its history. | |
Whatever is decided in the High Court of Australia, it will be the final legal chapter in a case that has deeply embarrassed the Catholic Church. | |
Who is George Pell? | Who is George Pell? |
Pell was among the highest-ranking figures in the Church's global hierarchy. | Pell was among the highest-ranking figures in the Church's global hierarchy. |
Made a cardinal in 2003, he was summoned to Rome in 2014 to help clean up the Vatican's finances. | Made a cardinal in 2003, he was summoned to Rome in 2014 to help clean up the Vatican's finances. |
He forged a reputation as a disciplined Church leader who held strict conservative views against same-sex marriage, abortion and contraception. | He forged a reputation as a disciplined Church leader who held strict conservative views against same-sex marriage, abortion and contraception. |
In Australia he circulated among the political elite, and even after his conviction he received public statements of support from two former prime ministers. | In Australia he circulated among the political elite, and even after his conviction he received public statements of support from two former prime ministers. |
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