Australian cardinal appeals custody after child sex crimes conviction

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Angry protesters called Cardinal George Pell a "maggot" and a "monster" on Wednesday as he arrived in court, possibly for the last time as a free man, in a last-ditch push for bail while he appeals his historic conviction for child sex crimes.

Once among Pope Francis' closest advisers and the most senior Catholic cleric ever convicted of child sex crimes, Pell is facing up to 50 years in prison on five charges of sexual and indecent assault on two choirboys in 1996-97.

He is expected to be remanded in custody after the pre-sentencing submissions in court, but his lawyer plans to apply for bail later in the day before the Court of Appeal.

A large crowd confronted the Cardinal outside the County Court of Victoria in Melbourne, with supporters of other abuse survivors jostling the 77-year-old and yelling: "You're a maggot, Pell, you rot in hell."

"You're the devil. You're evil... You're a pedophile. You're a criminal. You're a monster. May you rot in hell," one protester shouted.

Shortly before Wednesday's hearing, Vatican spokesperson Alessandro Gisotti announced on Twitter that Pell had been removed from his position as chief of Vatican finances, the third-most powerful position in the Church.

The Vatican said earlier it had "utmost respect" for the Australian justice system following the "painful news" of Pell's conviction.

The cardinal was found guilty in December of assaulting two choirboys in the sacristy of Melbourne's Saint Patrick's Cathedral, but the verdict was only revealed Tuesday after a second trial against him was abandoned by prosecutors, allowing a gag order to be lifted.

He was due to be remanded in custody in December but that was delayed until the pre-sentencing hearing as his lawyer said he required urgent double-knee surgery.

Pell has already appealed the verdict and his lawyer told the court Tuesday it would be based on three grounds – that the jury verdict was unreasonable, an animation showing movements of people in the cathedral on the day of the alleged abuse was rejected, and that there were issues with how the jury was formed.

Pell is expected to be sentenced in the next two weeks.

(Cover: Cardinal George Pell leaves the Victoria Court after prosecutors decided not to proceed with a second trial on alleged historical child sexual offenses in Melbourne, Australia, February 26, 2019. /VCG Photo)

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Source(s): AFP