Australia’s highest court acquits former Vatican treasurer George Pell of sexually assaulting two teenaged choirboys in the 1990s, allowing the 78-year-old cardinal to walk free from jail via SonaliPaul2
- Australia’s highest court acquitted former Vatican treasurer George Pell on Tuesday of sexually assaulting two teenaged choirboys in the 1990s, freeing the 78-year-old cardinal after 404 days in jail.
The seven judges of the High Court agreed unanimously that the jury in the cardinal’s trial “ought to have entertained a doubt” about his guilt. Pell, who has maintained his innocence throughout the lengthy court process, cannot be retried on the charges. “I would like to pray today for all those people who suffer unjust sentences resulting from intransigence ,” Francis said, speaking extemporaneously at the start of the Mass.
“This is a disappointing ruling that only exacerbates the mistrust survivors feel,” SNAP Australia said in a statement. A lower appeal court had upheld Pell’s conviction, but the High Court found it had failed to properly consider evidence that should have raised doubt that he was guilty. The lower appeals court and the trial jury watched a video of his accuser’s testimony, described by the prosecutor as “powerful and persuasive”. The High Court did not view it and said it should not have been necessary for the appeal court to have viewed it.The second alleged victim in the case died in 2014 of a drug overdose.
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