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Cardinal George Pell's lawyer has revealed Australia's highest-ranked Catholic could face more charges, following a new statement made by a witness involved in a historical sex offences court hearing.
Pell, 76, returned to Melbourne Magistrates Court on Tuesday as he contests multiple historical sex offence charges at a month-long committal hearing that will determine if he stands trial.
His barrister, Robert Richter QC, said a witness who was scheduled to give evidence at the hearing had made a second statement to police overnight.
"We do not know at this stage if charges would be laid or not," he told the court.
"It's more than troubling, and we would submit that he should not be called at this stage."
Given the man had made the second statement on Monday, the defence needed time to obtain further information, Mr Richter added.
"We have not had any opportunity to do any investigation," the barrister said.
The defence requested the man and his primary police statement be removed from the committal hearing, which the prosecution did not oppose.
Mr Richter also said the defence disputes the man's first statement about Pell's presence at one of the locations where he is alleged to have committed a sex offence.
Pell has been charged with multiple historical sex offences involving multiple complainants.
The court has not released any details about the charges.
Two of Pell's colleagues on Monday gave evidence about where Pell would change into his vestments with the help of another priest before saying Mass.
"It was not possible for him to be alone at a Sunday Mass. It's simply impossible," Father Charles Portelli said.
The hearing before magistrate Belinda Wallington continues.
EARLIER
Ballarat’s Cardinal George Pell may face fresh charges after a sensational development during his committal hearing.
The Melbourne Magistrates Court heard on Tuesday that a witness, who was due to face cross examination, had supplied a new statement to police on Monday evening.
Cardinal Pell, 76, faces multiple historical sexual offence charges involving multiple complainants. Details of the charges are yet to be revealed. He has repeatedly denied the allegations.
The new statement is understood to contain further allegations against the Cardinal.
Cardinal Pell's high profile defence barrister Robert Richter, QC, said the "troubling" statement put his legal team in an "invidious" position and would not allow them to have the opportunity to properly cross-examine the witness.
They argued it should not be considered during the committal hearing.
“Whether charges are to be laid or not … it should not be part of this committal at this stage,” Mr Richter told the court.
Mr Richter told the court the statement was “problematic” and argued it should instead be included in another later hearing if charges were to proceed, once his legal team had been given time to investigate the claims.
“We’ve not had any time do investigation,” Mr Richter told the court.
The witness had been called to give evidence to answer questions about an earlier statement he had provided to police which placed the Cardinal at a location at the time an alleged sexual offence is claimed to have occurred.
Mr Richter requested the witness’ first statement be removed from the police brief of evidence and that he no longer be called to give evidence in the hearing.
Prosecutors did not oppose his request and the witness will no longer give evidence at the hearing.
The hearing continues.