Single trial expected for Pell contempt case

Media organisations hit with contempt charges for allegedly reporting Cardinal George Pell’s conviction will likely face a single trial.

Cardinal George Pell arrives at the Seminary Of The Good Shepherd in Sydney after his acquittal. Picture: AAP Image/Bianca De Marchi

Media organisations hit with contempt of court charges over the reporting of Cardinal George Pell’s conviction will likely face a single trial, expected to be held later this year.

Eleven media organisations and 19 individual journalists have been hit with charges for allegedly breaching a suppression order after the Cardinal was convicted of child sexual assault.

At the time multiple outlets published information about a high-profile Australian’s conviction without naming Pell or identifying his charges.

Cardinal Pell was acquitted of all the charges in the country’s highest court and immediately freed from prison in April.

Cardinal George Pell arrives at the Seminary Of The Good Shepherd in Sydney after he is acquitted of all charges. Picture: AAP Image/Bianca De Marchi

A start date of November 9 has been pencilled in for the case, it was revealed.

“There is agreement to there only being one trial,” prosecutor Lisa De Ferrari told the Supreme Court on Wednesday.

It had earlier been flagged there could be several trials because of the 11 media companies and 19 individuals who are involved in the case.

If it goes ahead, the trial will likely be a virtual hearing, the court was told.

Cardinal Pell arrives at the Seminary Of The Good Shepherd in Sydney. Picture: Christian Gilles

Media lawyer Matthew Collins QC also argued prosecutors in the case were engaged in a fishing exercise by trying to force corporations to hand over documents that could incriminate individual journalists.

Under Australian law, individuals retain the right against such self-incrimination.

“The applicant is seeking the assistance of the accused to prove the applicant’s case,” Dr Collins said of prosecutor’s attempts to access documents.

The media lawyer also sought information about why a secondary trial related to Pell was abandoned and raised issues about two specific companies who he said were incorrectly charged.

A ruling about the issues will be decided later this month.