George Pell will learn his fate on Tuesday morning when the High Court rules on his appeal against child-sex convictions | acooperjourno
The world has changed in the 400 days since George Pell first went into jail but he could see Easter as a free man if the High Court rules in his favour on Tuesday morning.
If the High Court finds Pell's appeal successful, the cardinal is expected to be released from Barwon Prison on Tuesday.But if the court dismisses the appeal, the 78-year-old will have exhausted his legal avenues and will remain in jail, with 2½ years more to serve before he is eligible for parole. The court grants Pell leave to appeal but refers the case back to the Victorian Court of Appeal for another hearing. That would mean Pell's case isn't over but he could apply for bail.
A surge of civil cases – launched either by other people who claim he sexually abused them as children, or those who allege he did nothing to prevent the abuse by other paedophiles in the church – are expected to hit the courts.