Cardinal George Pell’s child sex conviction appeal set for two days in June

Disgraced Australian Cardinal George Pell, convicted over child sex crimes, will get a second chance to clear his name this June, a court official said Wednesday, if a judge grants his appeal.

The Church was rocked by the conviction on charges of sex abuse of Australian cardinal George Pell, the highest-ranked Vatican official to be convicted. Source: AAP

Disgraced Cardinal George Pell's application to appeal his conviction for sexually abusing two boys in the 1990s has been listed for the Court of Appeal in June. 

The Court of Appeal has set two days to consider Pell's application to appeal his conviction for the abuse of two 13-year-old choirboys at Melbourne's St Patrick's Cathedral.

June 5 and 6 have been set down by the court to consider both Pell's application for leave to appeal and, if granted, the appeal itself.

George Pell in Rome when he was first interviewed in relation to allegations he sexually abused two choirboys. Source: Supplied

The 77-year-old former Vatican number three is due to be sentenced next week.

The Australian Cardinal become the most senior Catholic clergyman to be found guilty of child sex abuse when he was convicted in December, and maintains his innocence.

He faces up to 50 years in jail.

Sydney silk and appeal expert Bret Walker SC will lead in the case once Pell has been sentenced on five charges on March 13, with defence barrister Robert Richter QC, junior counsel Ruth Shann and solicitor Paul Galbally to continue representing the disgraced cardinal.

Cardinal George Pell arrives in court ahead of his conviction for molestation of two choirboys. He's now facing a civil case over another matter. Source: AP

On Tuesday, Mr Richter was back in the headlines after it merged he would not lead the appeal process.

He said he was too emotionally involved in the case to lead the appeal.

“I am very angry about the verdict,” he was quoted as saying, “because it was perverse”.

However, he denied earlier report he had quit the legal efforts for Pell.

A statement from Pell's legal team stated Mr Richter was “still very much part of the legal team and will be involved right through to the end”.

Cardinal George Pell and Barrister Robert Richter. Mr Richter will not lead the appeal. Source: AAP

“Robert Richter did not say he has quit Cardinal George Pell’s legal team,” the statement read.

Mr Richter came under fire during the Catholic cardinal’s pre-sentencing pleahearing when he referred to the child abuse as “vanilla sexual penetration”. 

The QC later apologised for his “terrible choice of phrase”.