Prosecutors drop more George Pell contempt charges against media

A total of 105 charges of contempt of court laid over reporting of the George Pell case scrapped as judge slams delays.

George Pell is escorted from the Supreme Court of Victoria in August, 2019. Picture: William West/AFP

The Victorian Director of Public Prosecutions has now dropped more than half of the original 205 charges filed against journalists and media outlets alleging contempt of court over reporting on the George Pell case.

In total, 105 charges have now been dropped and 100 are continuing.

Thirty-six journalists, editors and media organisations were charged in March last year over contempt relating to alleged breaches of the George Pell suppression order.

Charges against six individuals and organisations have since been dropped, including radio host Ray Hadley.

Charges were recently dropped in relation to individuals connected to WA Today, Brisbane Times and Canberra Times.

Supreme Court judge John Dixon chastised prosecutors over the slow progress of the case in Thursday’s directions hearing.

“It really concerns me (that we’re) 11 months on and still talking about the basics,” he said.

“I still have no idea what kind of trial is going to come out.”

Barrister Lisa De Ferrari SC said there were fundamental issues with the media’s approach to the proceeding.

“I hear what you say but I don’t really understand it,” Justice Dixon said.

Ms De Ferrari told the court the media was behaving as though it was criminal proceedings and asking for a brief of evidence.

She said admissions had been inconsistent about who was responsible for publications.

She said it was “absurd” for prosecutors to have to prove publication by various outlets.

Barrister Matthew Collins QC, for the media, said counsel was doing the best they could given the way the proceedings had been conducted.

“These are criminal charges. The director can either prove the allegations against these (respondents) or she cannot,” he said.

“The director has to prove each element of the charges.”

Justice Dixon said there was too much boxing at shadows.

“In a case like this it’s a legitimate defence to say prove your case,” he said.

Justice Dixon has made an order for prosecutors to file a further amended statement of claim and a brief of evidence.

The matter will return for a further directions hearing at a later date.

Remaining respondents including Michael Stutchbury of The Australian Financial Review, Michael Bachelard of The Age and Ben English of The Daily Telegraph.

Pell’s trial for child sexual abuse at Melbourne’s St Patrick’s Cathedral and the guilty verdict were suppressed on the grounds it would prejudice a subsequent trial that did not proceed.