Hearing over historical sex offence charges against Cardinal George Pell delayed due to magistrate’s death
THE SUDDEN death of a Melbourne magistrate has seen the preliminary hearing into historical sex offence charges against Cardinal George Pell abruptly stood down.
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THE SUDDEN death of a Melbourne magistrate has seen the preliminary hearing into historical sex offence charges against Cardinal George Pell abruptly stood down.
Magistrate Belinda Wallington, who is presiding over the Cardinal’s hearing, stood the matter down until Monday after announcing she had “devastating news”.
Chief Magistrate Peter Lauritsen confirmed the death of Magistrate Stephen Myall.
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“Mr Myall was a much loved and respected member of the judiciary who worked at a number of court locations including Sunshine, Broadmeadows and across the Geelong region,” he said.
“He joined the Magistrates’ Court in December 2005 after a distinguished legal career. Our thoughts are with his family, friends and colleagues at this sad time.”
“I will make a further statement at a later date,” Mr Lauritsen said.
Mr Myall's death saw a number of matters before the court temporarily stood down this afternoon to allow magistrates to mourn their colleague.
A traumatised Ms Wallington told the packed courtroom she could not continue on the bench today, and may not be able to do so tomorrow.
The death of the respected magistrate shocked the court precinct, with matters being stood down as news of his death spread.
Before the news broke, the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court heard evidence from several fathers of alleged victims of the Cardinal.
The court heard one father, whom the Herald Sun cannot name, failed to name Cardinal Pell in a police statement he made in July 2015.
Cardinal Pell’s barrister Robert Richter, QC accused the man of “inventing” a story about his client in the years following his statement.
“That’s an insult,” the man replied.
“Absolutely not.”
The man said he was told about an allegation involving the Cardinal by his other son about a week before he made his police statement.
The alleged abuse took place in the 1970s.
The court heard the alleged victim suffered from mental illness throughout his life after surviving a horrific motorcycle accident.
The man’s father said he never suspected anything untoward had happened to his son up until he was advised of the allegations in 2015.
Another father of an alleged victim told the court he also was unaware of any allegations against Cardinal Pell up until a month before he made his police statement in July 2015.
The Pell committal has been adjourned until 10am on Monday.