Prosecutors drop some George Pell contempt charges
Victoria’s top prosecutor has dropped dozens of contempt of court charges over the reporting on the George Pell case, including a charge against Herald Sun editor Damon Johnston.
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Victoria’s top prosecutor has dropped dozens of contempt of court charges over reporting on the George Pell case including a charge against Herald Sun editor Damon Johnston.
Director of Public Prosecutions, Kerri Judd, QC, is pursuing contempt of court convictions against 34 organisations and individuals amid allegations they breached a suppression order after Pell was found guilty of child sexual assault in December.
But Ms Judd today dropped dozens of charges of scandalising the court and aiding and abetting contempt.
Herald Sun editor Damon Johnston had been charged with a single count of scandalising the court but it was today formally discontinued, meaning he faces no further charges.
Prominent Sydney shock jock Ray Hadley is also no longer facing any charges.
Fairfax Media, Mamamia, Nine Entertainment and other News Corp publications and journalists remain among the 34 respondents although the charges of scandalising the court and aiding abetting overseas publications to break the law have been dropped against them and all other defendants.
The DPP now only wants a declaration that respondents were either in breach of a suppression order and, in contempt of court.
Orders for imprisonment, fines and conviction of each of the respondents has also been sought.
Prosecutors on Monday filed a 139-page statement of claim in the Supreme Court detailing the allegations levelled at each of the respondents.
It followed criticism by Dr Matt Collins, QC, representing each of the respondents, that documents served on the media were general in nature and failed to specify allegations.
Justice John Dixon ordered a detailed statement of claim be filed by today.
Pell was convicted in December of five charges regarding the sexual assault of two choirboys at St Patrick’s Cathedral in 1996.
Reporting on the trial at the time the verdict was delivered was banned because of a strict suppression order.
The order was made by trial judge Peter Kidd, the chief judge of the County Court, to protect an expected second trial Pell was to defend.
That trial was ultimately dropped by prosecutors.
Pell is serving a minimum sentence of three years and eight months.
He will appeal his convictions at a hearing in June.
The contempt case will return to court on June 26.
Executive chairman of News Corp Australasia Michael Miller has vowed to “vigorously defend all charges and resolutely stand by our editors and journalists”.