BREAKING: George Pell Convicted On Five Counts Of Child Sex Abuse
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In breaking news, Cardinal George Pell has been found guilty of child sexual abuse following a trial in Melbourne.
He has been convicted on five counts of child sex abuse.
A suppression order was put in place regarding the matter, meaning that the verdict – which was delivered in December last year – is now only just able to be revealed.
This was due to a second trial that was underway involving different allegations against Pell.
Pell was once Australia’s most senior Catholic and the third most powerful person in the Vatican. He is the most senior Catholic cleric to be convicted of child sex offences.
He has been found guilty of sexually penetrating a child under the age of 16, and four charges of an indecent act with a child under the age of 16.
These offences occurred in December 1996 and early 1997.
He will be sentenced on Wednesday.
Pell intends to appeal the decision, with the following statement released by his lawyers:
Cardinal George Pell has always maintained his innocence and continues to do so. An appeal has been lodged against his conviction and he will await the outcome of the appeal process. Although originally the Cardinal faced allegations from a number of complainants, all charges except for those the subject of the appeal have now been either withdrawn, discharged or discontinued. He will not be commenting in the meantime.