Kidd said the cardinal, with his "significant history of cardiac problems," would be eligible for parole in late 2022, but acknowledged he "may not live to be released from prison." By AFPMore by this AuthorMELBOURNE,Disgraced Australian Cardinal George Pell was on Wednesday sentenced to six years in prison for the "brazen" sexual abuse of two choirboys, in what the judge lambasted as a "grave" abuse of power. The cardinal, a household name in Australia with friends that include prime ministers and business magnates, maintains his innocence and will appeal. But with global attention on historic abuse within the Catholic church, Kidd stressed that it was Pell rather than the Vatican that was on trial. He began the hearing, which was broadcast live, by stating that Pell was "entitled to the balanced and steady hand of justice" and lamenting "lynch mob mentality" among some of the public.

Source: Daily Nation March 13, 2019 04:41 UTC