Former Vatican treasurer Cardinal George Pell loses appeal against sex abuse convictions, returns to prison by SonaliPaul2
MELBOURNE - Former Vatican treasurer Cardinal George Pell lost an appeal against his conviction for sexually abusing two 13-year-old choir boys and will remain in prison for at least another three years, an Australian court ruled on Wednesday.
Supreme Court of Victoria Chief Justice Anne Ferguson said on Wednesday that two of the three judges hearing Pell’s appeal “decided that it was open to the jury to be satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that Cardinal Pell was guilty of the offences charged” and rejected his appeal. “The criminal process has been stressful. The journey has taken me to places that, in my darkest moments, I feared I could not return from,” he said in the statement.
She said his legal team was examining the judgment to determine whether to lodge a special leave application to the High Court of Australia to hear an appeal. Pell has 28 days to file the application.Pell appealed his conviction to Victoria’s Court of Appeal on three grounds, but mainly on the argument that the jury’s verdict was unreasonable based on the evidence at the trial.
Outside the court in Melbourne, small groups of activists and victims of abuse cheered once they heard the verdict. Before he could be dismissed from the priesthood, the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith would have to find him guilty following a separate canonical trial or abbreviated procedure, known as an “administrative process”.Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the courts had done their job and the justice system must be respected. He also said he expected Pell would lose his Australian honors.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Ex-Vatican treasurer Pell loses appeal against sex abuse convictions, remains in jailFormer Vatican treasurer Cardinal George Pell lost an appeal against his convict...
Read more »
Ex-Vatican treasurer Pell to learn fate on child sex offences appealAustralian court dismisses application by ex-Vatican treasurer Cardinal George Pell to appeal child sex convictions, says he will continue to serve six-year sentence in prison. More:
Read more »
Cardinal George Pell loses appeal against conviction for child sex abuseFormer Vatican treasurer George Pell will remain in prison after an Australian appeals court rejected his lawyers' attempts to overturn the disgraced cardinal's conviction for sexually assaulting two 13-year-old choirboys in the 1990s
Read more »
Australian court upholds Cardinal Pell child sex convictionsMELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — An Australian court by a 2-1 majority ruling Wednesday upheld convictions against Cardinal George Pell, the most senior Catholic to be found guilty of children sex...
Read more »
Cardinal George Pell denied appeal on conviction for molestation of choirboysBREAKING: An Australian court by a 2-1 majority ruling Wednesday upheld convictions against Cardinal George Pell, the most senior Catholic to be found guilty of children sex abuse.
Read more »