Cardinal George Pell will face a four-week committal hearing next March as he fights historical sexual offence allegations. He appeared at Melbourne Magistrates' Court today [Friday] after being charged by detectives from Victoria Police in June.
The court heard that around 50 witnesses will give evidence and be cross-examined during the hearing scheduled to take place from 5 March. The committal hearing will determine whether there is enough evidence to commit Cardinal Pell to stand trial at a higher court.
The 76-year-old has been given a leave of absence from his role at the Holy See as Prefect of the Secretariat for the Economy while he fights the case in the city where he was once archbishop.
A huge media scrum followed Cardinal Pell as he arrived and left court as supporters and protesters crowded for a chance to see him.
The exact detail and nature of the charges have not been made public, and Cardinal Pell strenuously denies the allegations. Cardinal Pell's defence barrister, Robert Richter QC, said his team will aim to prove some of the allegations made against his client could never have happened. "We want to demonstrate that what was alleged was impossible," he told the court.
Magistrate Belinda Wallington refused Mr Richter's application to cross-examine five witnesses, but approved all others. The court heard the prosecution’s brief of evidence was “voluminous”.
The hearing lasted about 20 minutes. Cardinal Pell was not required to enter a plea but Mr Richter told his previous hearing that his client would plead not guilty.
The Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney has previously said it would not pay its former archbishop's legal costs, but a fund has been set up for Cardinal Pell's supporters to donate money to help fund his legal team.
After the hearing, protesters yelled at Cardinal Pell as he walked from the court with his legal team. He did not react as he made his way down the steps.
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