CANBERRA (AUSTRALIA)
AAP via CathNews
March 11, 2020
By Karen Sweeney
The 78-year-old was jailed for six years last year for sexually abusing two choirboys at Melbourne’s St Patrick’s Cathedral, shortly after being appointed Archbishop of Melbourne in 1996.
He was convicted by a jury in 2018 of the rape of one 13-year-old choirboy and sexual assault of another. The first boy gave evidence against Cardinal Pell while the second died in 2014.
Cardinal Pell maintains his innocence.
Victoria’s Court of Appeal last year upheld the verdict in a 2-1 ruling.
The High Court has not formally granted Cardinal Pell’s application for appeal, instead referring it “for argument”.
That means after the hearing, which is scheduled to continue tomorrow, the court could refuse the application for special leave, or approve it and either allow or dismiss the appeal.
Cardinal Pell’s lawyers are arguing the appeal on two grounds.
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