3 Mar 2019

Anne Stevens QC: Reaction to George Pell verdict and possibility of appeal success

From Sunday Morning, 7:23 am on 3 March 2019
Defence lawyer Anne Stevens makes closing arguments on behalf of Alexander Merritt, in his murder trial over the death of Karin Ross.

Defence lawyer Anne Stevens makes closing arguments on behalf of Alexander Merritt, in his murder trial over the death of Karin Ross. Photo: RNZ / Ian Telfer

Cardinal George Pell, who was once the third most senior Catholic in the world, was found guilty of child sexual abuse after a trial in Melbourne this week. Dunedin barrister Anne Stevens QC joins the show to look at the verdict from a defence lawyer's point of view and the chances of an appeal against his convictions -- which Pell's lawyer suggests will be based on grounds of unreasonableness, the prohibition of video evidence and composition of the jury -- standing up in court.