Cardinal George Pell pleads not guilty to charges relating to historical offences
Australia’s most senior Catholic cleric Cardinal George Pell pleads not guilty to charges relating to historical sex offences.
Australia’s most senior Catholic Cardinal George Pell pleads not guilty to charges relating to historical sex offences.
12.55pm: Pell responds
Cardinal George Pell has responded to the events of this morning.
Issuing a statement via his legal representatives, Cardinal Pell said he will defend the remaining charges and “steadfastly” maintained his innocence.
“Cardinal George Pell has at all times fully co-operated with Victoria Police,” the statement read.
“He has voluntarily returned to Australia to meet these accusations.
“He would like to thank all those who have supported him from both here in Australia and overseas during this exacting time and is grateful for their continuing support and prayers.”
Tessa Akerman 11.35am: Applause as Magistrate departs
Cardinal Pell’s barrister Robert Richter QC has asked for a decision on costs to be reserved as he said the “vilest of charges” had been discharged.
There was a round of applause in the courtroom after Magistrate Belinda Wallington left.
There is currently a large crowd outside the courthouse waiting for Cardinal Pell to leave.
John Ferguson 11.30am: Restrictions on Pell
Cardinal Pell was told to alert authorities if he moved address, not to leave Australia and not to contact prosecution witnesses except Monsignor Charles Portelli.
Tessa Akerman 11.28am: Half of Pell’s charges dismissed
Cardinal Pell has been committed to stand trial on historical sex charges but the committal magistrate threw out approximately half of the charges levelled against him.
Cardinal Pell formally entered a plea of not guilty and will appear before the County Court for a directions hearing.
Magistrate Belinda Wallington has committed him to stand trial on charges related to a regional pool and his time as archbishop of St Patrick’s Cathedral.
Tessa Akerman 11.17am: Pell pleads not guilty
Ms Wallington asked the cardinal how he would plead after issuing the formal advice that a judge would take into consideration a guilty plea during sentencing.
“Not guilty,” the cardinal said in a loud and clear voice.
Tessa Akerman 11.13am: Another charge sent to County Court
Serious charges relating to alleged sexual offending at St Patrick’s cathedral have been sent to the County Court despite evidence from clergy that the then-archbishop was never alone when dressed in his vestments and the sacristy was always locked.
Tessa Akerman 10.54am: Another pool charge sent to trial
The magistrate has directed another charge related to a regional pool be uplifted to the County Court for trial before a jury.
Tessa Akerman 10.45am: Another charge sent to trial
Another charge relating to alleged offending at a swimming pool has been sent to trial despite the alleged victim making the complaint after watching the 7.30 report which detailed similar allegations.
“In my view there’s no evidence of collusion,” Ms Wallington said.
10.39am: Statement from Archdiocese of Melbourne
The Archdiocese of Melbourne have responded to the news, releasing the following statement:
“The Archbishop of Melbourne Denis Hart has declined to make any comment in relation to the decision of the magistrate Belinda Wallington to commit Cardinal Pell to face trial in the County Court,” the statement read.
“Archbishop Hart expressed his confidence in the judicial system in Australia and said that justice must now take its course.”
Chip Le Grand 10.34am: Pell to stand trial
Cardinal George Pell will stand trial on at least one charge of historic sex abuse but has been cleared of the most serious allegation against him.
Melbourne Magistrate Belinda Wallington is currently handing down her decision on whether to commit Carninal Pell on multiple counts of sex abuse.
Ms Wallington dismissed one charge on the grounds that the person who levelled the allegation was an unsatisfactory witness who had a “cavalier attitude’’ towards giving evidence.
Tessa Akerman 10.32am: Pell to stand trial on historic sex offence
Ms Wallington has committed Cardinal Pell to stand trial on a historical sex offence charge related to a regional pool.
A man claimed then Father Pell had committed a sexual offence against him on three occasions at the pool.
“In my view that weakens the hypothesis of accident,” Ms Wallington said.
Tessa Akerman 10.27am: Another charge thrown out
The magistrate has just thrown out another charge related to alleged offending at a regional pool.
Tessa Akerman 10.20am: Serious charges thrown out
Serious charges against Cardinal George Pell have been thrown out.
Magistrate Belinda Wallington has begun delivering her decision on whether the cardinal will stand trial on historical sex charges.
She has outlined the role of a committal magistrate and said the magistrate was not to assume the role of a jury.
The court is hearing details of charges relating to one of the complainants who alleged a sexual offence was committed at a regional cinema during a screening of Close Encounters of the Third Kind.
Ms Wallington has detailed the alleged victim’s evidence, corroborating evidence and the police investigation.
She said there was evidence of a temporal impossibility and it would be illogical to discharge only some of the allegations relating to the complainant and threw out all of his charges.
John Ferguson 10am: Magistrate to rule on Pell trial
Cardinal George Pell has arrived at a Melbourne court for a decision about whether he should stand trial over historical sex offence charges.
The 76-year-old and his lawyers want the case against Australia’s most senior Catholic thrown out, and magistrate Belinda Wallington is due to hand down her decision this morning.
He arrived at the court at 9.51am and was supported by Monsignor Charles Portelli, the former priest in charge of St Patrick’s cathedral and adviser Katrina Lee.
The cardinal’s friend Chris Meney also attended court. Cardinal Pell appeared relaxed and in good humour before the magistrate arrived. Monsignor Portelli left the court as he is potential witness in any possible future trial.
He was greeted outside the court by a large contingent of police and media. By 10am the courtroom had almost filled.
Cardinal Pell, who took leave from his position as Vatican treasurer to fight the charges, faced a four week-long pre-trial committal hearing in March to determine if he will stand trial.
During the hearing, the defence repeatedly attacked the police investigation into Cardinal Pell, which began in March 2013 before any crime had been reported. In April the defence and prosecution returned to Melbourne Magistrates Court for further legal arguments. Cardinal Pell was excused from attending.
Defence barrister Robert Richter QC argued Pell had been targeted as Australia’s most senior Catholic amid hatred and public furore over the church’s response to clergy abuse.
Mr Richter suggested some of the allegations were the product of fantasy, mental problems or pure invention.
He also suggested claims about Cardinal Pell made in a television program led to other people making complaints against the cardinal, creating a kind of public furore. But crown prosecutor Mark Gibson SC said the defence attack on the complainants’ credibility amounted to nothing more than “a conflict in the evidence”, which was up to a jury to decide.
Mr Gibson said there was no evidence to back the defence theory that Cardinal Pell was being targeted because the church had failed to stop sexual abuse.
With AAP
More Coverage
Women egged in anti-Semitic attack at Bondi Beach
Three men allegedly set upon a number of women on Saturday night in Sydney's east, throwing eggs at them, with police believing they were targeted because of the clothes they were wearing.
Nation ‘must not go down road’ of faith-based parties: PM
Parties founded on religion would undermine social cohesion, according to Anthony Albanese, as he reminded rogue senator Fatima Payman that she owed her election to Labor pre-selection.