The defense said it was impossible for the crimes to have gone unnoticed in the busy cathedral moments after masses. But Portelli denied leaving Pell for a cigarette and the prosecution told the jury they should disregard the smoking-break theory as speculation. The prosecution also said Pell did not always spend time conversing with parishioners on the cathedral steps after mass. The defense points to Sacristan Max Potter’s evidence that the wine was always locked in a sacristy safe after Sunday Solemn Mass. The prosecution says as a 13 year-old boy, the complainant could be expected to be inexperienced in varieties of wine.

Source: Washington Post February 26, 2019 02:24 UTC