Ruling due in Pell case

CARDINAL George Pell will return to court today to learn whether he is to stand trial on historical sex assault charges.

If he is sent to trial he would become the highest-ranked Catholic cleric ever to face a jury on such serious charges.

Magistrate Belinda Wallington has been deliberating for two weeks, after a submission by Cardinal Pell’s lawyers that he has no case to answer.

Victoria Police laid numerous historical sexual assault charges nine months ago.

The cardinal has vehemently denied wrongdoing.