George Pell charged on summons with multiple child sex offences

AUSTRALIA
The Australian

June 29, 2017

JOHN FERGUSON
Victorian EditorMelbourne
@fergusonjw

JACQUELIN MAGNAY
Foreign correspondentEurope
@jacquelinmagnay

UPDATE: Cardinal George Pell has been charged on summons with historic sex offences.

During a brief press conference, Deputy commissioner Shane Patton confirmed that the high-ranking Catholic Church official was facing multiple charges and there were multiple complainants.

He has been charged on summons, with documents served on his Melbourne legal representatives and lodged at the Melbourne Magistrates Court, where he will appear on July 18 for a filing hearing.

Deputy commissioner Patton acknowledged the intense public interest in the case and said the investigation into Cardinal Pell had followed the same procedure as all historic cases of sex abuse.

He said the decision to lay charges was made by police.

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