The committal hearing has begun for Australia’s most senior Catholic, Cardinal George Pell, with his barrister, Robert Richter QC, accusing police of failing to properly investigate. Outside the court people held up placards that read, “No trial by media” and “The truth will set you free”. Police should also provide the court with any exculpatory material they had acquired that might depict Pell favourably, he said. Cardinal George Pell: Vatican official charged with multiple sexual offences Read moreOn Friday prosecutors withdrew one of the charges, relating to a complainant who died after the criminal proceedings began in 2017. Pell has taken leave from his position at the Vatican as prefect of the secretariat for the economy to fight the charges.

Source: The Guardian March 05, 2018 01:07 UTC