Former Vatican treasurer Cardinal George Pell lost an appeal against his conviction for sexually abusing two 13-year-old boys and will remain in prison for at least another three years, a court ruled on Wednesday.

Former Vatican treasurer Cardinal George Pell lost an appeal against his conviction for sexually abusing two 13-year-old boys and will remain in prison for at least another three years, a court ruled on Wednesday. Pell, the highest-ranking Catholic worldwide to be convicted of child sex offences, was sentenced in March to six years in jail after being found guilty on five charges of abusing the two boys at St Patrick's Cathedral while he was Archbishop of Melbourne in the late 1990s. Pell appealed his conviction to Victoria's Court of Appeal on three grounds, but mainly on the argument that the jury's verdict was unreasonable based on the evidence at the trial. "Having reviewed the whole of the evidence, two of the judges of the court of appeal ... have decided that it was open to the jury to be satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that Cardinal Pell was guilty of the offences charged," Supreme Court of Victoria Chief Justice Anne Ferguson said, reading out a summary of the court's decision. Pell had also appealed on the grounds that the trial judge was wrong to have blocked the defence from showing a video animation to back up its closing argument and that Pell should have entered his plea while in front of potential jurors rather than by a video link in the court house. The three appeal judges decided to only grant leave to hear the first ground of appeal, that the jury verdict was unreasonable, and that was then dismissed on a 2-1 verdict. Under the terms of his sentencing, Pell will be eligible for parole in October 2022, when he will be 81.

Ex-Vatican treasurer Pell loses appeal against sex abuse convictions, to stay in jail

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/top-vatican-cleric-cardinal-pell-convicted-of-child-sex-crimes-199719">Convicted Australian Cardinal George Pell</a> has shown "no remorse" for his assault of two choirboys, prosecutors said Wednesday as they called for immediate imprisonment after his historic conviction for child sex crimes.

Once among Pope Francis' closest advisors and the most senior Catholic cleric ever found guilty of child sex crimes, Pell was harangued by angry protesters who called him a "maggot" and a "monster" as he arrived at a Melbourne court for a pre-sentencing hearing a day after his conviction was made public.

The 77-year-old is facing up to 50 years' jail after being convicted on five counts of sexual and indecent assault of the two choirboys in 1996-97, shortly after he became Archbishop of Melbourne.&nbsp;

Pell is appealing the verdict.

Prosecutors told Wednesday's pre-sentencing hearing that Pell had "shown no remorse" for his actions.

"He has not taken responsibility for his actions. There remains no explanation for this offending," Crown Prosecutor Mark Gibson told the County Court of Victoria.

"There has been a breach of trust... Cardinal Pell was the driving force... and in charge of the cathedral, and these choristers were cogs in the cathedral wheel."

Pell is expected to be remanded in custody following Wednesday's submissions after his legal team suddenly withdrew an earlier application for bail pending his appeal, a process which could take months.

His barrister Robert Richter argued Pell's behaviour was not premeditated, and that he had 10 character references from individuals and "none of them believe him capable of this".

"This is a court of law, not a court of morals," he told Chief Justice Peter Kidd.

'You're evil'&nbsp; 
The revelation on Tuesday of Pell's conviction has rocked Australia and dominated the news. A large media pack and crowd confronted the cardinal as he arrived in court, with one protester screaming: "You're a maggot, Pell, you rot in hell."

"You're the devil," You're evil... You're a paedophile," "Criminal", "monster", "May you rot in hell," protesters shouted.

Shortly before Wednesday's hearing, Vatican spokesman 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 the 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, that 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.

The Court of Appeal process, which could last up to a year, will see a bench usually made up of three judges review the same evidence that the jurors were presented within the earlier trial.

Criminal law expert Jeremy Gans of the University of Melbourne told AFP the judges could question the jury's conclusions based on the fact that the case was based on only one person's -- the surviving victim's -- testimony.

The other choirboy, who died of a drug overdose in 2014, had never told his parents he was abused.

During the trial, the court had heard that Pell abused the two boys after catching them swigging from a bottle of sacramental wine. He exposed himself and forced one of them to perform oral sex on him, and fondled the boy's genitals while masturbating.

Convicted Australian Cardinal George Pell has shown "no remorse" for his assault of two choirboys, prosecutors said Wednesday as they called for immediate imprisonment after his historic conviction for child sex crimes.

Convicted Australian Cardinal George Pell has shown "no remorse" for his assault of two choirboys, prosecutors said Wednesday as they called for immediate imprisonment after his historic conviction for child sex crimes. Once among Pope Francis' closest advisors and the most senior Catholic cleric ever found guilty of child sex crimes, Pell was harangued by angry protesters who called him a "maggot" and a "monster" as he arrived at a Melbourne court for a pre-sentencing hearing a day after his conviction was made public. The 77-year-old is facing up to 50 years' jail after being convicted on five counts of sexual and indecent assault of the two choirboys in 1996-97, shortly after he became Archbishop of Melbourne. Pell is appealing the verdict. Prosecutors told Wednesday's pre-sentencing hearing that Pell had "shown no remorse" for his actions. "He has not taken responsibility for his actions. There remains no explanation for this offending," Crown Prosecutor Mark Gibson told the County Court of Victoria. "There has been a breach of trust... Cardinal Pell was the driving force... and in charge of the cathedral, and these choristers were cogs in the cathedral wheel." Pell is expected to be remanded in custody following Wednesday's submissions after his legal team suddenly withdrew an earlier application for bail pending his appeal, a process which could take months. His barrister Robert Richter argued Pell's behaviour was not premeditated, and that he had 10 character references from individuals and "none of them believe him capable of this". "This is a court of law, not a court of morals," he told Chief Justice Peter Kidd. 'You're evil' The revelation on Tuesday of Pell's conviction has rocked Australia and dominated the news. A large media pack and crowd confronted the cardinal as he arrived in court, with one protester screaming: "You're a maggot, Pell, you rot in hell." "You're the devil," You're evil... You're a paedophile," "Criminal", "monster", "May you rot in hell," protesters shouted. Shortly before Wednesday's hearing, Vatican spokesman 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 the 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, that 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. The Court of Appeal process, which could last up to a year, will see a bench usually made up of three judges review the same evidence that the jurors were presented within the earlier trial. Criminal law expert Jeremy Gans of the University of Melbourne told AFP the judges could question the jury's conclusions based on the fact that the case was based on only one person's -- the surviving victim's -- testimony. The other choirboy, who died of a drug overdose in 2014, had never told his parents he was abused. During the trial, the court had heard that Pell abused the two boys after catching them swigging from a bottle of sacramental wine. He exposed himself and forced one of them to perform oral sex on him, and fondled the boy's genitals while masturbating.

'No remorse': Prosecutors call for 'immediate imprisonment' of Australian Cardinal George Pell

archbishop-of-melbourne

Archbishop Of Melbourne, News on Archbishop Of Melbourne, stories on Archbishop Of Melbourne, articles on Archbishop Of Melbourne, Archbishop Of Melbourne stories at Wion, Archbishop Of Melbourne news, Archbishop Of Melbourne latest news

archbishop of-melbourne

Ex-Vatican treasurer Pell loses appeal against sex abuse convictions, to stay in jail

'No remorse': Prosecutors call for 'immediate imprisonment' of Australian Cardinal George Pell