Melbourne, Australia, Sep 17, 2019 / 03:32 am
Cardinal George Pell Tuesday submitted an application for leave to appeal his conviction to the Australian High Court, following the Aug. 21 decision by the Court of Appeal in Victoria to uphold his conviction for child sexual abuse.
The leave to appeal was filed in Melbourne by Pell's legal team Sept. 17, one day before the deadline of 28 days from the date of the Appeal Court decision.
Sources close to the cardinal told CNA Aug. 26 that Pell would be exercising his final appeal and that, while the majority of "special leave to appeal" cases were not granted by the High Court, his case would likely be accepted given the controversy triggered by the split decision of the Appeal Court judgement.
In seeking to take his case to the High Court in Canberra, Australia's supreme court, Pell is exercising his last legal avenue to overturn a conviction which has divided opinion in the country and internationally.