CARDINAL PELL VERDICT

On Tuesday, Cardinal George Pell, Australia’s highest-ranking Catholic official and one of the most senior members of the Catholic Church, was found guilty of sexually abusing two boys over two decades ago. He was found guilty by a jury in Melbourne’s County Court in December last year. However, the media had been restricted from reporting the verdict by a suppression order until it was lifted on Tuesday.

At 77 years old, Cardinal Pell has reportedly suffered from medical issues in recent years, including undergoing double knee surgery in December 2018, whilst on bail awaiting his sentencing hearing. It is expected his barrister, Mr Robert Richter QC, will argue that his ill health and age should be considered for a lenient sentence.

Prior to this, Cardinal Pell was the Vatican’s Chief Financial Officer and was a member of the Group of Nine, the Pope’s inner circle of trusted advisers.

Cardinal Pell returned to Melbourne’s County Court on Wednesday for his presentencing hearing, where he was met with a large crowd of journalists and the general public, many of which were verbally abusing Cardinal Pell as he was led through the crowd.

After the hearing he was remanded in custody and is expected to be sentenced in the following fortnight.