Cardinal George Pell is likely to face two separate trials on historical sexual assault charges, a Melbourne court has heard.
At a brief hearing at the County Court of Victoria on Wednesday morning, Pell’s defence barrister Robert Richter QC said that two separate trials were necessary because the nature of the two sets of charges were “completely different” and had occurred 20 years apart.
Judge Sue Pullen, who presided over the directions hearing, and prosecutors did not object to the request to split the trials.
Separate juries will hear allegations against Cardinal Pell about his time as a priest in Ballarat in the 1970s, and charges relating to when he was archbishop of Melbourne in the 1990s.
Prosecutors and lawyers agreed that the entire trial would take between eight and 10 weeks but no dates for the trials have been set. A further directions hearing will be held in Melbourne’s county court on 16 May.
Cardinal Pell has pleaded not guilty to all charges, and has denied any wrongdoing.
On Tuesday, Cardinal Pell was told he would stand trial in an Australian court on several charges of historical sexual assault.
Magistrate Belinda Wallington dismissed a number of the most serious charges, ruling that there was insufficient evidence for a jury to convict Cardinal Pell, while other charges were withdrawn due to the death of one complainant and the finding that another was medically unfit to give evidence.
Under his bail conditions, Cardinal Pell is unable to leave the country.
The Vatican has issued a statement saying: “The Holy See has taken note of the decision issued by judicial authorities in Australia regarding His Eminence George Pell. Last year, the Holy Father granted Cardinal Pell leave of absence so he could defend himself from the accusations. The leave of absence is still in place.”
PICTURE: Cardinal George Pell, head of the Vatican Secretariat for the Economy, arrives at the Melbourne Magistrates Court in Melbourne, Australia, May 1. (CNS photo/James Ross, via Reuters)
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