George Pell has successfully appealed against his sexual assault convictions and will walk free from prison today.
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Pell's final appeal in the High Court in Brisbane ultimately proved successful, it was announced on Tuesday, meaning his sexual abuse convictions have been thrown out.
Pell learned of the decision at Barwon Prison.
Pell,78, was originally sentenced to six years jail in March, with a minimum incarceration of three years and eight months.
His convictions have now been quashed.
Although Pell was originally found guilty of sexual assault in December 2018, it was not made public until February 2019 year due to a ban on media coverage imposed by Chief Judge Peter Kidd.
He was convicted of raping a 13-year-old choirboy and molesting his friend after a Sunday Mass at St Patrick's Cathedral in Melbourne in 1996.
He has maintained his innocence since being confronted with the allegations by Victoria Police in Rome four years ago, but a jury of 12 and Victoria's Court of Appeal ruled otherwise.
The finding was only made public when the prosecutors dropped separate charges relating to Ballarat's Eureka Pool.
Pell's lawyers have argued the jury was wrong and the appeal court majority made a mistake.
Pell has spent more than 400 days behind bars.
- Anyone in Ballarat affected by the story can phone CASA, Sebastopol on 5320 3933, email casa@bhs.org.au, or free-call the crisis care line 24 hours on 1800 806 292.
- Alternatively Phone Lifeline on 13 11 14, or Relationships Australia on 1300 364 277.
FROM ALLEGATIONS TO APPEAL: A TIMELINE OF THE GEORGE PELL CASE
1996
* Pell appointed Archbishop of Melbourne by Pope John Paul II
* Pell sexually abuses two 13-year-old choirboys after a Sunday solemn mass at St Patrick's Cathedral, according to a later jury finding.
* A second indecent act is committed by Pell against one of the choirboys in a corridor at the cathedral, the same jury found.
2001-2014
* Pell served as Archbishop of Sydney, 2001-2014.
* He is made a cardinal in 2003.
2016
* The Herald-Sun reports Pell is being investigated by Victoria Police's Sano taskforce for "multiple offences" committed while he was a priest in Ballarat in the 1970s and Archbishop of Melbourne.
* Pell says the allegations are "without foundation and utterly false".
* Under Vatican rules, Pell gives Pope Francis his resignation on his 75th birthday, as is customary. It is not accepted.
* Victoria Police officers travel to Rome to interview Pell over the abuse claims. He voluntarily participates in the interview.
2017
JUNE 2017
* Pell is charged with multiple counts of historical child sexual offences.
* He denies the charges and vows to clear his name.
* Pell takes leave from his Vatican finance chief role to fight the charges.
JULY 2017
* Pell returns to Australia.
* He hires top barrister Robert Richter QC.
* Supporters set up a fund to help Pell fight the charges.
2018
MARCH 2018
* Prosecutors drop one of the charges against Pell.
* A month-long committal hearing begins to determine if Pell will face trial.
* Prosecutors withdraw more charges.
* Mr Richter claims police conducted a "get Pell operation" and accuses Melbourne magistrate Belinda Wallington of bias. She refuses to disqualify herself from the case.
MAY 2018
* Ms Wallington orders Pell stand trial on some charges but throws out others.
* Pell formally pleads "not guilty".
* Two trials are ordered, separating the 1970s and 1990s allegations.
AUGUST 2018
* The 1990s "cathedral trial" begins in the Victorian County Court in Melbourne.
* Pell pleads not guilty again to one charge of sexual penetration of a child under 16 and four of indecent acts with a child, over incidents involving two 13-year-old choirboys at St Patrick's Cathedral in 1996.
SEPTEMBER 2018
* The jury is discharged, unable to reach a verdict following a week of deliberation. Some jurors weep.
NOVEMBER 2018
* A retrial begins. The jury members aren't told of the previous hung jury.
DECEMBER 2018
* Pell is found guilty on all charges by an unanimous jury.
* Mr Richter says Pell will appeal.
* Suppression orders prevent Australian media reporting the verdict but it spreads through international media within hours.
2019
FEBRUARY 2019
* Hearings begin ahead of the second trial. Prosecutors drop another charge.
* An appeal is filed against the cathedral trial conviction.
* A County Court judge deems vital evidence inadmissible.
* Prosecutors withdraw all remaining charges against Pell and drop a second trial over allegations Pell indecently assaulted boys in Ballarat in the 1970s when he was a parish priest.
* Pell is taken into custody on February 27 as the plea hearing begins.
MARCH 2019
* Pell is sentenced by County Court Chief Judge Peter Kidd to a maximum of six years in prison. He must serve at least three years and eight months in jail before being eligible for parole. He will be a registered sex offender for life.
JUNE 2019
* Court of Appeal considers Pell's application to challenge his conviction on June 5 and 6.
AUGUST 2019
* Court of Appeal rejects Pell's appeal in a 2-1 decision, meaning he will remain behind bars.
SEPTEMBER 2019
* Pell lodges a special leave to appeal application with the High Court
NOVEMBER 2019
* Two High Court judges refer Pell's application to the full court to hear appeal arguments.
2020
MARCH 2020
* Full bench of the High Court hears Pell's appeal arguments.
APRIL 2020
* High Court quashes all of Pell's convictions.
