AUSTRALIA
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
December 12, 2017
By Emma Younger
It is expected to take up to two weeks for the complainants against Cardinal George Pell to give their evidence at an upcoming committal hearing, a Melbourne court has heard.
The 76-year-old will face the pre-trial hearing in March next year on historical sexual offence charges, involving multiple complainants.
No other details of the case can be reported for legal reasons.
Cardinal Pell strenuously denies the allegations.
Prosecutor Fran Dalziel told a short hearing at the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court that a remote facility had been booked for a fortnight to allow the complainants to give evidence via video link.
The court will be closed to the public during that part of the month-long proceeding, as required by law.
Cardinal Pell’s defence barrister Ruth Shan told the hearing they had received documents requested from Victoria Police and advocacy group Broken Rites.
Cardinal Pell was not required to attend court today and did not appear.
Another procedural mention has been set down for next Thursday.
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