The Australian High Court unanimously ordered his convictions to be quashed.
Australia's highest court on Tuesday acquitted 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.
"I hold no ill will toward my accuser, I do not want my acquittal to add to the hurt and bitterness so many feel; there is certainly hurt and bitterness enough," Pell said in a statement shortly before he was driven away from the maximum-security Barwon Prison near Melbourne. The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests said it was "dismayed and heartbroken" by the outcome.
Pell was serving a six-year sentence on one charge of sexual penetration of a child under 16 and four charges of an indecent act with a child under 16, which the plaintiff said took place when Pell was archbishop of the city of Melbourne. The High Court cited precedent from an unrelated case that "there is a significant possibility that an innocent person has been convicted because the evidence did not establish guilt to the requisite standard of proof."
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Hong Kong ex-lawmaker convicted for protest assault with loudhailer | Malay MailHONG KONG, April 6 — A former Hong Kong lawmaker was convicted today of using a loudhailer to assault police officers during huge pro-democracy protests that convulsed the finance hub last year. Au Nok-hin is the first former member of the city’s legislature to be successfully prosecuted for...
Read more »
Hong Kong ex-lawmaker convicted for protest assault with loudhailerHONG KONG: A former Hong Kong lawmaker was convicted on Monday (April 6) of using a loudhailer to assault police officers during huge pro-democracy protests that convulsed the finance hub last year. Au Nok-hin is the first former member of the city's legislature to be successfully prosecuted for taking part in the protests and the most high profile figure convicted to date.
Read more »
HK ex-lawmaker convicted for causing cop hearing impairmentHe is found guilty of shouting through the loudhailer near a police officer. FMTNews HK
Read more »
High Court judges can review excessive sentences for MCO, says ex-judgeMohd Hishamudin Yunus says a judge can call up a case even after reading about a case in the newspapers. FMTNews MCO
Read more »
Myanmar's ex-political prisoners share tips to survive isolationThe Southeast Asian state spent nearly half a century under a paranoid, secretive junta. FMTNews Myanmar
Read more »
Cardinal Pell to walk free from Australian jail after winning appeal | Malay MailBRISBANE, April 7 ― Cardinal George Pell's historic child sex abuse convictions were quashed by Australia's High Court today, paving the way for the senior Catholic cleric's release from prison. The 78-year-old was acquitted on all five counts of sexually abusing two 13-year-old choirboys in the...
Read more »