Disgraced Cardinal George Pell's application to appeal his conviction for sexually abusing two boys in the 1990s has been listed for the Court of Appeal in June.
The Court of Appeal has set two days to consider Pell's application to appeal his conviction for the abuse of two 13-year-old choirboys at Melbourne's St Patrick's Cathedral.
June 5 and 6 have been set down by the court to consider both Pell's application for leave to appeal and, if granted, the appeal itself.
The 77-year-old former
George Pell in Rome when he was first interviewed in relation to allegations he sexually abused two choirboys. Source: Supplied
The Australian Cardinal become the most senior Catholic clergyman to be found guilty of child sex abuse when he was convicted in December, and maintains his innocence.
He faces up to 50 years in jail.
Sydney silk and appeal expert Bret Walker SC will lead in the case once Pell has been sentenced on five charges on March 13, with defence barrister Robert Richter QC, junior counsel Ruth Shann and solicitor Paul Galbally to continue representing the disgraced cardinal.
On Tuesday, Mr Richter was back in the headlines after it merged he would not lead the appeal process.
Cardinal George Pell arrives in court ahead of his conviction for molestation of two choirboys. He's now facing a civil case over another matter. Source: AP
He said he was too emotionally involved in the case to lead the appeal.
“I am very angry about the verdict,” he was quoted as saying, “because it was perverse”.
However, he denied earlier report he had quit the legal efforts for Pell.
A statement from Pell's legal team stated Mr Richter was “still very much part of the legal team and will be involved right through to the end”.
“Robert Richter did not say he has quit Cardinal George Pell’s legal team,” the statement read.
Cardinal George Pell and Barrister Robert Richter. Mr Richter will not lead the appeal. Source: AAP
Mr Richter came under fire during the hearing when he referred to the child abuse as “vanilla sexual penetration”.
