Posts Tagged ‘George Pell trial’

Pell’s trial shows courts can’t keep secrets in the internet age

Thursday, March 7th, 2019
Image: SMH Internet age

Australians with a modicum of curiosity might well ask what’s been going on. Cardinal George Pell, an Australian who is one of the most senior people in the hierarchy of the Catholic church, was found guilty in December and no one till now has been allowed to know the details of the charges against him, Read more

Cardinal Pell verdict: The law must be allowed to do its work

Thursday, February 28th, 2019
Cardinal Pell

The suppression order in relation to Cardinal George Pell has been lifted. In December, a jury of 12 of his fellow citizens found him guilty of five offences of child sexual abuse. No other charges are to proceed. Cardinal Pell has appealed the convictions. The verdict was unanimous. The jury took three days to deliberate Read more

Cardinal Pell found guilty of child sex offences

Thursday, December 13th, 2018
Cardinal Pell

Cardinal George Pell has been found guilty on five counts of historic sex offenses. The jury in a County Court of the State of Victoria, delivered a unanimous verdict on Tuesday. The verdict came after three days of deliberation and sentencing will take place in early February. Until then Pell is released on bail. This Read more

Australian court orders Cardinal Pell to stand trial

Thursday, May 3rd, 2018

The Australian court has ordered Cardinal George Pell to stand trial. He will be defending historical sexual offence allegations which he denies. The Vatican has issued the following statement about the court’s decision: “The Holy See has taken note of the decision issued by judicial authorities in Australia regarding His Eminence Cardinal George Pell. “Last Read more

Final submissions in Pell trial made: ruling due 1 May

Thursday, April 19th, 2018

Final submissions in a hearing to determine whether the case against Cardinal George Pell is strong enough to warrant a trial by jury have been made. Pell, who is Pope Francis’s former finance minister, is facing several sexual abuse charges. The alleged offences date back to when he was living in Victoria. Police have described Read more

Australian court told some Pell charges will be dropped

Monday, March 26th, 2018

The Australian court has been told some of the alleged historical sexual offence charges against Cardinal George Pell will be dropped. Prosecutor Mark Gibson told the court last Friday one of Pell’s accusers is medically unfit to give evidence, so the charges cannot proceed. No other details were given. Another charge against Pell was dropped Read more

One Pell sexual offence charge withdrawn

Monday, March 5th, 2018

A sexual offence charge against Australian Cardinal George Pell has been withdrawn because his accuser died. Mark Gibson SC, crown prosecutor, told the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Friday the charge following the death of key witness Damian Dignan was being withdrawn. However, Pell still faces numerous other sexual offence charges. He is denying all of Read more

Key witness in Pell case unreliable: Court may withdraw charge

Monday, February 19th, 2018

Evidence from a key witness in the sexual abuse trial against Cardinal George Pell may be withdrawn and the charge against him dropped. The director of prosecutions told the Melbourne Magistrates Court that, although no decision has been made yet, the charge by the late Damian Dignan was “likely to be withdrawn”. Ruth Shann, a Read more

Not just George Pell is on trial

Thursday, October 12th, 2017

Here is the lead role in the tragedy – Cardinal George Pell – having to endure the humiliation of facing charges for alleged sexual abuse. The October 6th “mention” at the Melbourne Magistrates Court did not specify charges but reported that there would be up to 50 witnesses testifying in court proceedings. The “mention” occurs Read more

Cardinal George Pell – the time of trial begins

Thursday, July 27th, 2017

Cardinal George Pell appeared briefly at the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Wednesday charged with historic sex offences. No formal plea was entered although Pell’s legal team lead, Robert Richter, told the magistrate: “For the avoidance of doubt … Cardinal Pell will plead not guilty to all charges, and will maintain the presumed innocence that he Read more