Cardinal George Pell has been committed to stand trial on multiple historical sexual offence charges following a decision in the Melbourne Magistrates Court.
While a number of charges were struck out, magistrate Belinda Wallington found there was sufficient evidence for the case to proceed to trial.
Cardinal Pell, who has formally pleaded not guilty to the charges, will now face a directions hearing in the County Court before a trial date is set.
Australia’s most senior Catholic figure, Cardinal Pell is the highest ranked person in the history of the Roman Catholic Church to stand trial on such charges.
Denis Hart, the Catholic Archbishop of Melbourne, declined to comment on the decision.
