Australia’s most high profile member of the Catholic church, Cardinal George Pell, has lost his appeal against his conviction for sexually abusing two teenage choirboys in the 1990’s.

This morning a panel of three judges from Victoria’s Court of Appeal turned down his lawyers application to appeal his sentence.

In March Pell was sentenced to a six years in prison. A jury found him guilty of five offences including sexual penetration of a child. The crime occurred while he was Bishop of Melbourne in the 1990’s.

The Archbishop must now complete a sentence of three years and eight months in prison, he has been incarcerated since the he was sentenced. He will be 81 years old when he becomes eligible for release in October 2022.

The case may now move to the High Court if the religious leader’s lawyers choose to file a new appeal in the higher court.

OIP Staff

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