Complainants testify against Cardinal George Pell in court
COMPLAINANTS who have alleged they are the victims of historical sexual offences committed by Cardinal George Pell are continuing to testify against him.
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COMPLAINANTS who have alleged they are the victims of historical sexual offences committed by Cardinal George Pell are continuing to testify against him.
Cardinal Pell arrived at the Melbourne Magistrates Court about 9.18am for the second day of an anticipated month-long preliminary hearing to determine whether or not there is sufficient evidence for him to be committed to stand trial.
As with each of his previous attendances at court he was escorted into the building by a human shield of police, many of those still in training at the police academy.
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Cardinal Pell was heckled by some and offered words of support by other onlookers.
He refused to answer questions from the media.
The Cardinal and his legal team have a room inside the Melbourne Magistrates Court where he is spending time when there is a break in court proceedings.
Complainants are giving their evidence from a remote facility, and as is customary with sexual abuse matters, that evidence is being heard in a closed court.
It means only the magistrate, lawyers, the complainant, Cardinal Pell and approved support people for both him and the complainant can be in court.
Each complainant will formally adopt their police statement before being cross examined by lawyers for Cardinal Pell.
Yesterday, Robert Richter QC, who lead’s the Cardinal defence team, hit out at Victoria Police saying they failed to properly investigate the complaints made against his client.
He said police had failed to investigate 21 witness statements provided to them by Cardinal Pell’s defence team.
He described the statements as “exculpatory” of the Cardinal.
Mr Richter said police also failed to follow recommended procedures for the prosecution of prominent people developed by a former judge.
“We say that was not followed because there was a presumption of guilt.”
Cardinal Pell’s legal team had made submissions on that issue to police and to the Director of Public Prosecutions, Mr Richter said.
Media outlets from around the world, including the US, UK and Sweden, are covering the hearing.
Unusually the exact charges being faced by Cardinal Pell have not yet been made public.
It means the exact nature of the case against the Cardinal remains a mystery.
He has vehemently denied any wrongdoing and stood down as the Vatican’s Prefect of the Secretariat for the Economy immediately after being charged.
The Vatican’s third most senior official, Cardinal Pell is the highest ranked Catholic to face such serious charges.
“I’m innocent of these charges. They are false. The whole idea of sex offences is abhorrent to me,” he said after being charged.
“News of these charges strengthens my resolve, and court proceedings now offer me an opportunity, to clear my name and then return to my work in Rome.
“I am looking forward finally to having my day in court,” he said.
Up to 50 witnesses could be called to testify during the preliminary hearing.