Cardinal George Pell won his appeal at Australia’s High Court. His conviction on "abuse" charges was overturned unanimously on April 7.
He was 404 days, more than 13 months, in prison after being wrongfully convicted by the Melbourne County Court. Now, he is out and in a secure location.
The court found that the jury “ought to have entertained a doubt as to the applicant's guilt with respect to each of the offences for which he was convicted," and ordered "that the convictions be quashed and that verdicts of acquittal be entered in their place.”
The judges found "a significant possibility that an innocent person has been convicted because the evidence did not establish guilt to the requisite standard of proof."
Cardinal Pell said in a first statement that he holds no ill will toward his [mendacious] accuser. He thanks for all the prayers and “thousands of letters of support” (full letter below).
Australia charged an innocent man amidst the poisonous culture of anti-Catholic frenzy. Pell …More