'I am ok': Pell's accuser reassures his supporters, saying he's relieved the appeals process is over
George Pell's accuser has accepted the High Court's decision to quash child sex abuse convictions against the Cardinal and reassured his supporters: "I am OK".
"It is difficult in child sex abuse matters to satisfy a criminal court that the offending has occurred beyond the shadow of a doubt. It is a very high standard to meet - a very heavy burden. There are a lot of checks and balances in the criminal justice system and the appeal process is one of them. I respect that," Witness J said in his statement through his lawyer Dr Vivian Waller.
"I would hate to think that one outcome of this case is that people are discouraged from reporting to the police. I would like to reassure child sexual abuse survivors that most people recognise truth when they hear it. They know the truth when they look it in the face. I am content with that. The High Court judges, having earlier granted the Cardinal's appeal in a courtroom near empty because of the COVID-19 crisis, said in a summary: "The jury, acting rationally on the whole of the evidence, ought to have entertained a doubt as to the applicant's guilt with respect to each of the offences for which he was convicted.""I have consistently maintained my innocence while suffering from a serious injustice," Cardinal Pell said in a statement.
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