AUSTRALIA
9 News
By Sean Davidson
A packed courtroom has heard Cardinal George Pell intends to plead not guilty to charges of historical sexual offences.
Cardinal Pell today made history as the first cardinal to face court over such offences, arriving at Melbourne Magistrates Court flanked by police who escorted him through a packed scrum of waiting journalists and demonstrators.
The court heard the case for less than six minutes, as the third-highest ranking member of the Catholic Church sat silently behind his defence team, including top Melbourne lawyer Robert Richter.
The 76-year-old looked back at the crowded room once before staring straight ahead during the proceedings.
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