In the case of the high-profile Pell, there must have been pressure to deal with him differently. With the police's history of covering up for the church here was a chance to present a case, weak or strong, in the open before a jury.
If Pell did molest those two teenagers in the busy cathedral, it certainly does not fit the usual pattern of paedophile priests. In the Pell case, although he had access to hundreds of boys over his career he did not groom the vulnerable. Instead he attacked two he did not know in broad daylight in a near public area.
Much has been made of the fact that Pell did not take the witness box to defend himself. His lawyer, Robert Richter, QC, who is about the best in the business, has only ever let two of his clients take the box. One was the colourful Mick Gatto, charged and acquitted of the murder of hitman Andrew ‘‘Benji’’ Veniamin. I asked Richter why he allowed Gatto to testify and he replied, ‘‘Because he insisted.’’ Wise move.
Our courts are not supposed to be swayed by outside influences, which is why judges are appointed and not elected and juries are promised anonymity. They are duty-bound to provide just outcomes, no matter how unpopular.
...something wrong..he did not go into the witness to plead his not guilty case....one of the boys said it did not happen.. door open people around... garments had to pulled over head.... previous jury dismissed ..something fishy ....
It was better when smh wasnt owned by nine pedolovers
Oh Boy. This ratio.
This SMH is no longer the credible source of news it once was. This stupid “comment” statement questioning the validity of the Pell conviction verdict is appalling. So many people are desperate to think of Pell as an innocent man. HE HAS BEEN FOUND GUILTY of RAPING CHILDREN!
His lawyer has admitted his guilt. I say proven.
This article has raised some doubt in my mind. It disturbs me to say this as I have suffered like the complainant but in a catholic boarding school. The boys groomed by the brothers and local priest had a profile. The offending was far from public, doesn’t fit for me
Did you say the same about Rolf Harris?
John silvester has spent too much time with Jeff Kennett, silvester used to be a good journalist
12 Ozzies from all walks of life base their decision on one accuser - that's scary.
GCobber99 Good bye SMH ANOTHER DODGY NEWSPAPERS RAPIST DONT DESERVE SYMPATHY
Here come the Catholic pedo excusers...
'those who want him to be guilty of historical sex offences against two choirboys and those who don’t.' Err no. Try as you might to sow doubt, a court's finding is not a popular vote. It's not a matter of what people 'want', it's a matter of what Pell has done. ie. Pedophilia
WhteRbbnAdvocat Sorry as a small child I forgot to leave bodily fluids where they could be found....
Just another journalist putting his two bobs worth in. No more qualified than me to have an opinion. MSM thinks it is so important. The presiding judge is an an easy target for big headed nobodies
It was a unanimous jury verdict after a previous hung jury. Clearly the majority of both juries felt he was more likely to be guilty than not. The defence now gets to try to convince yet another jury that the verdict was wrong. Not you.
Even when there is admissible evidence they still get off and it's been proven in prior cases. But you have to remember, people have come forward and accused him with their voices and committed suicide over his actions....surely that's admissible
What is wrong with all these people falling over themselves to defend a convicted child rapist? Just shut up bleating and show some respect for the victims!
This article is just silly speculation.
Yes He was
As far as I and anyone else is concerned the court did their job. No one in the media criticising the verdict however, can be said to be acting without favour.
It's rubbish to suggest it's unsafe to try a case because 'it's one person's word against another's'. It can come down to the witnesses' credibility. The jury in the Pell case unanimously accepted the victim's evidence. Your article reads like a trashy crime novel.
No I believe he was convicted of just pure and simple...... being a sick fuck!
wendy_harmer This is like a cricketer not accepting the umpires decision despite the evidence the other guy was out.
Why is an accused allowed to avoid being questioned in the witness box? (First principles answers please, not 'because it's the law'.)
How can you expect child sexual assault victims to come forward if this is how they are treated. You call victim a liar by implying their evidence shouldn’t be accepted. Should we switch to the Saudi Arabia model where a rapist can’t be convicted unless there are 4 witnesses?
So at trial by a jury of his peers 12 people selected presumably from all walks of life with whom at selection the defence had the privilege of rebuttal , on the evidence presented reached a unanimous decision , SMH suggests something wrong ?
wendy_harmer Exactly. Also Courts are not there to find the truth about a matter.
I have more confidence in a jury of Australians than in nay sayers like Howard, Bolt, Devine, Or Richter auspol abcnews
Media are in overjoyed hysteria, the sell and profits would be enormous on it.
wendy_harmer Just wow. You are seriously questioning the capability of a judge & his direction of a jury? You want to believe so badly that Pell is the good guy? Pell's lawyer says the child abuse was 'plain vanilla' sex - he is confirming it happened. Give yourself a slap upside the head.
wendy_harmer Noting that our conservative politicians accuse refugees on mManus of being pedophiles without charges being laid.
issues similar with domestic violence. one person's word against another. rarely witnesses. Gradually Courts accept statement of victims but not always.
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